Anhydrous ammonia exposure caused the deaths of five people in a tanker truck accident in Illinois, the coroner confirmed on Sunday night.
The truck was transporting the corrosive chemical on Friday night when it lost control and collided with a utility trailer parked near U.S. 40 in Teutopolis. The impact ruptured the tank and created a six-inch hole, releasing anhydrous ammonia into the air, said Tom Chapman, a member of the National Transportation Safety Board, at a press conference on Sunday.