ROUTE 82 Tanker overturns and spills chemical

Breathing xylene may cause dizziness and confusion.
By PEGGY SINKOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
VIENNA -- A portion of state Route 82 remained closed this morning after a tractor-trailer carrying 44,200 pounds of a highly flammable liquid overturned.
The semi, registered to Langer Transportation of Jersey City, N.J., overturned in the westbound lanes near the Scoville North exit around 5 p.m. Monday.
It wasn't immediately known how much of the xylene spilled.
The driver, 52-year-old Kenneth Capo, was taken to St. Elizabeth Health Center in Youngstown, where he was treated and released.
Trumbull County HazMat officials, Vienna firefighters and workers from the nearby Air Reserve Station were at the scene.
After being closed through the night, all but the right-hand westbound lane of the highway was reopened to traffic this morning.
"The driver apparently fell asleep and went right off the side of the road and flipped the tanker over. He said he tried to overcorrect and lost control," said Ohio Highway Patrol Trooper Tony Stephens, who spoke with the driver at the scene.
Checking for contamination
Investigators from the Environmental Protection Agency were to check this morning for groundwater contamination and other possible problems.
While three of the four lanes are open again, the Ohio State Highway Patrol said traffic using Route 82 to get to the Giant Eagle LPGA Classic at Squaw Creek Country Club on state Route 193, just south of 82, may experience delays.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency Web site, xylene is a colorless, sweet-smelling liquid that is highly flammable.
Exposure to large amounts can cause dizziness and confusion.
The Web site says chemical industries produce xylene from petroleum. It is one of the top 30 chemicals produced in the United States in terms of volume.
Xylene is a solvent used in the printing and leather industries. It also is used as a cleaning agent and paint thinner.