Crash, Acid Spill Leads To Injury, Shelter-In Place Order For Homes, Shell Refinery

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CA – A hydrochloric acid and chlorine spill in unincorporated Martinez this morning resulted in at least one minor injury, a shelter-in-place order and a road closure, according to Contra Costa County firefighters.

The injury and the spill of what appears to be pool chemicals were the result of a collision between a small pickup truck and a brown sedan in the area of Pacheco Boulevard and Veale Avenue at 8:22 a.m., Contra Costa County Fire Protection District Capt. George Laing said.

A county hazardous materials team has responded to the 3.5-gallon spill and is setting up a decontamination area, according to the county firefighters' union Twitter account. Help from additional emergency response
units was also requested.

The injured person was transported to a hospital. Fire officials issued a shelter-in-place order for roughly 20 homes in the area and the nearby Shell refinery, Laing said.

Pacheco Boulevard is closed in both directions in the area this morning. Emergency crews from Contra Costa County Fire, county hazardous materials, the California Highway Patrol and Martinez police responded to the
incident.

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--Bay City News/File photo