Teutopolis, a quiet community situated approximately 110 miles northeast of St. Louis, was plunged into chaos on Friday night when a semitruck carrying caustic anhydrous ammonia crashed, resulting in five fatalities, injuries to five others, and a hazardous chemical leak. The tanker truck, which toppled around 21.25, spilled more than half of its 7,500-gallon load, creating a perilous situation that led to the evacuation of approximately 500 residents within a 1-mile radius of the crash site.
Effingham County Coroner Kim Rhodes confirmed that the deceased included three members of the same family—one adult and two children under 12—along with two adult motorists from out of state. Names of the victims have not been released, and authorities have refrained from discussing the causes of death. Additionally, five individuals were airlifted to hospitals, with their conditions currently unknown.
