Chemical Spill Closes Portion of Freeway
A section of the northbound Golden State Freeway near Castaic remained closed late Monday after about 20 bags of a caustic chemical were found on the roadway, authorities said.
A California Highway Patrol officer suffered minor injuries when he burned his hand on one of the 50-pound bags that had apparently fallen from a truck, Los Angeles County Fire Department spokeswoman Charlotte Kramer said.
The officer, who was not identified, was treated by paramedics but not hospitalized, a CHP dispatcher said.
The chemical was identified as calcium hydrate, a highly flammable agent that is used to open blocked-up oil wells.
The 5:40 p.m. incident led officials to close the freeway between Templin Highway and Lake Hughes Road.
A county Fire Department hazardous material team was removing the bags late Monday.
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