Morinville RCMP had to close Highway 37 for more than eight hours Monday afternoon after a tanker truck carrying liquid nitrogen rolled off the road.
In addition to closing the highway until almost midnight, officers shut down the on-ramps from Highway 2 after the large tanker truck left the road and rolled into the ditch.
The driver was not injured in the accident and no other vehicles were involved.
Morinville RCMP Cpl. Kelly Nikota said the truck was leaking diesel fuel after the accident. Police were also concerned about the liquid nitrogen in its main tank, which did not leak. Nikota said the RCMP closed the road as a precaution and also to move the truck.
Another tanker arrived on scene to offload the liquid nitrogen. Police remained in the area for several hours while the site was cleaned up.
The truck was headed westbound on Highway 37 from Fort Saskatchewan when it slid into the ditch just one kilometre from Highway 2.
Nikota said the RCMP still has to interview witnesses and does not yet know what caused the truck to leave the road. The investigation is ongoing.
