Both directions of Interstate 70 just west of the Eisenhower Tunnel were closed Tuesday evening after a semi-tractor trailer carrying vehicle batteries overturned, releasing about 30 gallons of battery acid on the highway.
Lake Dillon firefighters responded to the accident just before 5 p.m., after a westbound truck coming down at high speed from the tunnel overturned. Batteries were scattered across the both directions of the highway near Mile Marker 208, striking and damaging two other vehicles.
One eastbound lane of I-70 reopened around 6:30 p.m. but the westbound lanes were to remain closed indefinitely Tuesday night as clean-up of the battery acid continued.
Given the extremely acidic nature of the battery acid, firefighters were required to respond to the scene in hazardous-materials suits. They neutralized the acid with soda ash.
The driver of the truck was taken to the Summit Medical Center with leg and hip pain.
John Aguilar: 303-954-1695, jaguilar@denverpost.com or
