Drivers accountable for east China chlorine leakage detained
31/3/2005 16:48
Huai'an police detained two drivers Thursday afternoon believed
responsible for Tuesday's chlorine leak that killed 28 people and left another
350 hospitalized in east China's Jiangsu Province, police said here
Thursday.
Kang Zhaoyong and Wang Gang, drivers with the Jining Kedi Hazardous
Chemicals Transportation Center of east China's Shandong Province, were driving
a tanker truck carrying 29.44 tons of liquefied chlorine when it ran out of
control with a flat tire and rammed into a cargo truck on the Huai'an section of
the Beijing- Shanghai expressway. Both vehicles turned over. The cargo truck
driver was killed on the spot.
The collision caused leakage of chlorine that
spread all over nearby villages.
Kang, who was driving, reported the accident
to expressway management authorities but did not say that the tanker was
carrying hazardous chemicals. Kang and Wang fled to Nanjing by taxi at 10:00
p.m.
Kang and Wang surrendered to Nanjing police Wednesday afternoon and were
brought to Huai'an Wednesday night.
Though the tanker was supposed to carry
no more than 15 tons, Kang said it was actually carrying 29.44 tons of
chlorine.
Kang and Wang are also charged with elaying evacuation of local
people since they did not report what kind of chemicals were in the
tanker.
Seventeen of the injured are seriously poisoned and three are in a
critical condition, according to local hospital authorities.
Xinhua
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