Anhydrous leak shuts down U.S. Highway 54

Both lanes of U.S. Highway 54 were closed down just west of Nevada Thursday at about 2:15 p.m., when a truck towing two tanks containing an unknown amount of anhydrous ammonia in the eastbound lane lost control of the tanks, causing both to overturn and one of them to rupture. A dense, white vapor emitted from the tank, blowing across the highway in Thursday's gusty winds. Nevada Fire Department personnel had to wait for the contents of the tank to discharge from the tank and dissipate because the rupture was too large for them to plug or patch, according to Fire Chief Robert Benn. More than an hour and a half later, the cloud was barely visible, but the substance continued to leak from the tank, easily detected by its odor. The westbound lanes reopened at about 4:15 p.m.; and eastbound lanes opened just after 4:30.