Highway 169 near Owasso re-opened after truck accident

A traffic accident on US Highway 169 south of Owasso Tuesday morning was not related to the weather. <br><br>A semi tanker truck overturned in the median of the highway near 56th Street North. News on

Tuesday, February 25th 2003, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

A traffic accident on US Highway 169 south of Owasso Tuesday morning was not related to the weather.

A semi tanker truck overturned in the median of the highway near 56th Street North. News on 6 reporter Emory Bryan says from the air - the tires tracks in the snowy median are easy to spot.

The driver of a semi truck drifted out of the left lane into the median. His truck and trailer overturned - ending up in a crumpled heap just short of Bird Creek. OHP trooper Lt. George Green says snow was not a factor. â€œThe truck driver emerged unhurt - and was cooperating with clean up crews and the highway patrol.â€

The accident closed down both lanes of highway 169 during most of the morning rush hour. At first - emergency crews weren't sure which chemical they were dealing with. The Tulsa Fire Department responded to check what the truck was carrying â€“ 40,000 pounds of sodium bisulfate - a corrosive liquid manufactured in west Tulsa. It posed only a slight danger to emergency crews - and prompted them to build two dikes that would contain the chemical in case of a spill. It took four hours to prepare the truck for lifting, but once a set of giant airbags inflated underneath it - the truck was set upright and towed away - clearing one of Tulsa's busiest roads after a morning of delays.

The Oklahoma Highway Patrol says roads conditions were good at the time of the accident. Despite heavy traffic, the tanker didn't hit any cars and no one was hurt.