Haz-Mat units spent most of the day Friday cleaning up a chemical spill in Williamson County that shut down a large section of State Highway 45 for several hours.
Officials say a pickup carrying several gallons of sodium bisulphate and hyperchloride was rear-ended by a passenger vehicle. This caused the containers to rupture, spilling chemicals all over the road.
Generally, the chemicals are used to clean sewers, and were being hauled by a company called Chlori-serve out of Hutto.
As of Friday afternoon, all roads had been reopened except for State Highway 45 westbound at Highway 620.
Texas Department of Transportation officials said that the chemicals, while dangerous, didn't cause anyone harm, and the quick reaction time kept drivers safe.
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Chemical clean-up
News 8's Catie Back explains what happened Friday on State Highway 45.
 
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"The main risk factor of sodium hyperchloride and sodium bisulphate.is they are a respiratory irritant, which could cause damage to the lungs. It could also cause some skin irritation, but the main thing we were worried about was any type of pulimnary damage that could result from people inhaling this caustic chemical," John Hurt with TxDOT said.
