Fullerton : Evacuation Ordered in Toxic Materials Spill

Half a block of businesses was evacuated for about three hours Tuesday afternoon when a 55-gallon drum of a toxic material spilled from the back of a truck, fire and police officials said.

The truck’s driver suffered eye irritation and was treated at the scene, Fire Department dispatcher Julie Kunze said. No other injuries were reported.

The incident occurred shortly before 2 p.m. in the 1800 block of Commonwealth Avenue, authorities said. A passer-by noticed liquid leaking from a westbound California Distribution Services truck and alerted the driver, police spokeswoman Melissa Zotovich said.

The truck was loaded with six 50-gallon drums filled with various solutions. The leaking drum contained resin compound liquid glass, she said.

According to the Fire Department, the truck driver climbed into the back of the truck and picked up the drum but dropped it, splashing the irritant into his face and hair.

Police identified the driver as Larry Victor Capasino, 70, of Laguna Niguel.

The Anaheim Fire Department’s hazardous materials team and county environmental health officials were called to the scene. A private firm cleaned up the spill, Kunze said.

Businesses on the north side of the street were evacuated, and pedestrian and westbound traffic was shut down until shortly before 5 p.m., Zotovich said.