Truck carrying barium overturns

The spill forced the temporary closing of the roadway.
ELLSWORTH -- A truck carrying 20 2,200-pound containers of barium, a hazardous material, rolled over this morning on U.S. Route 224 near state Route 45.
The rollover did not cause any of the barium to leak out of its plastic containers, said Ellsworth Fire Chief Robert Sternburg.
The driver, who works for RBY Trucking of Garden City, Mich., was not injured. The Ohio State Highway Patrol charged him with failure to control. His name was not available.
About 5 a.m., the driver lost control of his truck, which went into a ditch and rolled on its side. No injuries were reported.
Making delivery
He was on his way to deliver the material, which is used in the packing of PCV pipes, to a Pennsylvania company. When firefighters arrived at the scene, they noticed the signs on the sides of the truck saying it was carrying hazardous materials. They called in the Mahoning County Haz-Mat team and firefighters from six nearby departments.
The area was secured and closed to traffic for a mile in each direction, Sternburg said. Also, nearby businesses, homes and the Ellsworth Elementary School were evacuated.
About four hours after the accident, the truck was put upright, and late this morning it was being transported to a nearby township fire station, Sternburg said. Officials said they planned to reopen the road this afternoon.
Securing materials
Local officials asked RBY Trucking to come to the township to make sure the materials remained properly contained and are taken from the area.
According to the Web site Webelements, barium is a metallic element, soft, and white; oxidizes very easily and it reacts with water or alcohol; and small amounts of barium compounds are used in paints and glasses.