Chemical Leak Closes Section of Virginia Highway

Authorities closed a section of highway in Rockbridge County for more than nine hours because of a chemical leak.

The Virginia Department of Transportation said Tuesday afternoon the section of U.S. 11 north of Lexington has been reopened.

State police say toluene began leaking from a small hole in a tanker truck parked at a truck stop. The tanker was carrying 55,000 gallons of the gasoline additive and solvent.

Police say no one was evacuated, although trucks around the tanker were moved.

Rockbridge County Emergency Management Coordinator Robert Foresman says the highway was shut down mainly because fire crews had to stretch their hoses across the road.