Emergency Responders at Spill Incident on I-5 Near Marysville

Washington State Department of Ecology

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Sept. 10, 1998

98-160

Contacts: Ron Langley, Ecology Public Information, (425) 649-7009
Lt. Walt Fish, Washington State Patrol, (360) 658-2588

Emergency Responders at Spill Incident on I-5 Near Marysville

BELLEVUE - A semi tractor-trailer carrying drums of a hazardous material spilled some of that substance along an unknown distance on northbound Interstate 5 today, potentially between Kalama and the Smokey Point rest area near Arlington.

Motorists whose vehicles may have been splashed by the material are advised to wash it from their vehicles, skin or clothing using mild soap and water. The material, called dibenzyl amine (dye-BEN-zill AY-meen), can irritate the eyes and nose and cause difficult breathing.

The truck and trailer is loaded with 80 drums of the chemical and is now isolated at the Smokey Point rest area, which has been cleared and closed by the Washington State Patrol. The chemical splashed onto a car headed northbound on I-5 in the Silver Lake area at about 12:30 p.m.. The driver stopped at the Everett truck scales and called for help. Two people who were in the vehicle complained of troubled breathing and have received a medical check-up.

Spill responders from the Washington State Department of Ecology, Marysville Fire Department and Snohmish County Hazardous Materials Team are at the scene. The slow leak has not been stopped at this time.

Spill responders report that the situation is under control and that no ongoing hazard to motorists or residents in the area is expected. Dibenzyl amine evaporates easily, but does not react when it comes into contact with air or water. Cleanup will take several hours.