Hazardous Material Incident on Highway 75 North in White County Ends Safely After Tanker Truck Overturns
At 6:07 AM on Tuesday, October 29, White County 911 Communications received reports of a tanker tractor-trailer overturned in a ditch along Highway 75 North at the intersection of Clayton Road. The tractor-trailer, operated by The Cashion Company Inc. of Fountain Inn, South Carolina, was en route to Cleveland, Tennessee. Initial reports confirmed no injuries resulting from the accident.
The truck was carrying approximately 33,000 pounds of isopropyl alcohol, a flammable substance. Consequently, a hazardous materials (HazMat) operation was initiated to offload the liquid before safely removing the vehicle. A 1,000-foot safety perimeter was established around the scene, and a recommended evacuation was issued to residents and businesses within that radius. White County Emergency Management utilized the CodeRED system, and firefighters conducted door-to-door notifications to ensure public safety. During this operation, all roads within the perimeter were closed, and traffic along Highway 75 North was rerouted via Highway 75 Alternate and north on Richard Russell Scenic Highway. There were no environmental damages or concerns as a result of this accident.
The road was fully reopened at 3:15 PM. White County EMS provided standby services throughout the operation, which was carried out without any significant spills of the hazardous material. The cause of the accident is currently under investigation by the Georgia State Patrol and the Georgia Department of Public Safety’s Motor Carrier Compliance Division, which will determine if any charges or citations will be issued.
To assist evacuees, on-scene command coordinated with Helen City Hall to provide shelter for those needing a place to stay during the incident. All incident response adhered to local policies and the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Emergency Response Guide (ERG), ensuring compliance with national HazMat safety standards.
Multiple agencies responded to assist in the incident, including the Helen Police Department, Helen Fire Department, White County Fire Services, White County Emergency Management, and the White County Sheriff’s Office. Additional support came from neighboring counties and state agencies.
Payne’s Wrecker Service and their Emergency Spill Response Team were dispatched to assist in recovery efforts. The Georgia Department of Transportation and the Georgia State Patrol managed the state highway closure, while Habersham Fire Department provided additional supplies for HazMat operations. The Towns County Sheriff’s Office assisted in road closures and traffic control on the north end of the scene. The Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) – Law Enforcement, Georgia DNR – Wildlife Management, the U.S. Forestry Fire Service, and White County Public Works aided in other road closure operations. White County EMA’s Community Emergency Response Team responded to the scene with their Rehab unit to provide food and refreshments to first responders due to the extended on-scene time. Additionally, White County EMA’s UAS1 Drone provided overwatch using its thermal imaging capabilities.
No further incidents have been reported, and the scene is now clear.
