The Department of Emergency Services would like to inform the public that a dump truck overturned during a single vehicle accident at 9:56 a.m. today at 10200 Faulkner Road in Newburg, near Mirant’s Morgantown Generating Plant.
Fire and EMS units from Newburg and Bel Alton responded to the scene, along with the Charles County Tactical ResponseTeam.
As a result of the overturned dump truck, approximately 10 gallons of motor oil spilled from the vehicle. None of the spilled material entered into any ditches, drains, or waterways. The oil spill has been contained and emergency responders are in the process of cleaning up the area.
The dump truck was hauling sodium carbonate, anhydrous, a substance commonly known as soda ash. Soda Ash is a fairly stable, white, granular powder that is not flammable, combustible, explosive, or immediately dangerous to life and health or the environment. Soda Ash is an alkaline that reacts with strong acids releasing volumes of CO2 gas and heat. Soda Ash can irritate exposed skin or eyes, and cause respiratory irritation if inhaled and digestive discomfort if ingested.
None of the Soda Ash was spilled.