3 injured, 1 with life-threatening burns, after tanker explosion at Royal Chemical in Macedonia

A tanker carrying sodium hydroxide exploded at the Royal Chemical plant Wednesday morning in Macedonia resulting in three reported injuries, according to Macedonia Fire Chief Brian Ripley.

Two of the three people injured were transported to Metro General Hospital in Cleveland, one of them with life-threatening burns and the other with non-life-threatening, but critical burns, Ripley said.

The third individual was evaluated on the scene.

Investigators are still unsure what caused the explosion, which Ripley said occurred around 11:40 a.m. He said when crews arrived, the tanker had been split in two due to the explosion with half of the tanker inside of the building and the other half outside of the building.

"Right now, we are working to contain the environment. We believe (sodium hydroxide) got into a small creek located on the east side of that building and the Summit County Hazmat team is working on containing that," Ripley said.

Royal Chemical has contacted a clean-up company to help remove the spill, Ripley added.

Macedonia Police posted on Facebook that Freeway Drive is closed in both directions until further notice.

"We expect to be here for hours," Ripley said.

This story will be updated.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: 3 injured, 1 with life-threatening burns, after tanker explosion at Royal Chemical in Macedonia