Truck Hauling 6,000 Pounds of Uranium Overturns on North Carolina Highway

[The Straight Story]

Truck Hauling 6,000 Pounds of Uranium Overturns on North Carolina Highway

Thursday, December 21, 2006

BENSON, N.C. — A tractor-trailer hauling about 6,000 pounds of low-grade uranium overturned Thursday as it exited Interstate 95 in Johnston County, North Carolina, authorities said.

The truck crashed onto its side while exiting onto Interstate 40, said Jason Barbour, the county's 911 director. One of two people in the truck suffered minor injuries, and no other vehicles were involved, he said.

Highway Patrol spokesman Lt. Everett Clendenin said the truck was carrying Type A radioactive material.

"There's no threat to the public," Clendenin said. "It's a low grade uranium."

The accident happened around 9 p.m. and closed the exit ramp. Clendenin said the ramp should be open by Friday morning.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,238197,00.html

[jwirr]

1. In the 60s & 70s the news used to report nuclear spills about once

a month. They were always to small an amount to be a danger to the public. My Dad never went beyond 8th grade in school but after listening to one of these reports he said, "I wonder how many small amounts it takes to make a dangerous amount?" He was a self taught man who had a great deal of wisdom.

[left is right]

4. I had to check your profile to see if we were siblings

my dad said something similar about the same time and like your dad, he also only went through the 8th grade and is very wise. We are not siblings by the way. But from one daddy's girl to another, I hope you are still able to enjoy the presence of your father

[jwirr]

6. No, but I enjoy his memory and passing it on to my descendents.

[freethought]

2. Gee willicker! And those trucking corps want to loosen up

transportation safety standards!
Actually, I used to have a CDL myself. None of the corps I worked for seemed to give a damned about how many hours I had logged. Most of them play fast and loose with the rules.

[nealmhughes]

3. If it was natural Uranium, then a pair of cotton gloves stops any radiation.

U238 is an alpha emitter. Now it is a heavy metal and will poison you if you were to powder it and inhale it or injest in...

[eFriendly]

5. Sounds to me like

the truck driver was probably going a little bit too fast coming down the cloverleaf exit, and turned the trailer on it's side. I've seen it happen a few times during my travels.

I think everyone would be surprised to find out how much radioactive material is actually transported through our cities & towns by truck. I know from personal experience that the military has transported very small amounts of plutonium in lead trailers disgused as FedEx trailers (for instance), to avoid drawing attention to them either on the interstate or in some of the small towns that surround some of the bases.