AUSTIN, TX—A significant emergency response unfolded on Friday evening when a truck carrying radioactive materials caught fire along State Highway 329 near Rankin, Texas. The incident involved a semi-trailer transporting UN3332, a substance containing Cesium-137, known for its serious health risks.
The Texas Department of Public Safety’s Radiation/Nuclear Detection Unit, Upton County Sheriff’s Office, Texas Department of Transportation, and other local agencies quickly responded to the scene after the fire broke out around 7:45 p.m. The area was immediately secured, and the highway was closed to manage the situation and prevent public exposure to potential radiation.
DPS Corporal Scott Keane utilized a vehicle-mounted radiation detection system to assess the area, confirming it was free of radiation hazards. Further safety measures included radiation contamination surveys conducted by Corporal Keane and Corporal Dustin Henderson on first responders at the scene.
The situation was declared safe after thorough checks, allowing the responsible company to retrieve the semi-trailer and safely transport the hazardous material back to their facility. The highway was reopened later that night at around 11 p.m., marking the end of the emergency operations.