Residents of 10 homes south of Boyle were allowed to return home May 22 after an evacuation prompted by a hydrochloric acid spill on Highway 831.
A tractor-trailer travelling on Highway 831 was involved in a single-vehicle collision three kilometres south of Boyle, causing it to spill hydrochloric acid May 21. A section of the highway was rendered impassable after the incident, according to a Boyle RCMP press release the same date.
The residences were ordered to evacuate as a precautionary measure at approximately 10:15 a.m. May 21, according to RCMP media relations Cpl. Leigh Drinkwater, but were allowed to return home May 22 at 1 a.m.
"Given the fact it was hydrochloric acid, it was a precautionary measure taken," Drinkwater said in an interview.
The cause of the collision is not yet known, Drinkwater said.
"That is still part of the ongoing investigation with the Boyle (RCMP) detachment. They have not made a determination yet as to cause," Drinkwater said in a May 22 interview, adding no charges have been laid in the case.
The road was re-opened overnight May 22, Drinkwater said, but was limited to one-lane of traffic the next morning while crews worked to clean up the scene.
Boyle Fire Rescue, who were involved in the evacuation, offered thanks to people for their patience throughout the incident in a May 22 post on its Facebook page.
Crews cleared the truck from the area, but Drinkwater said the damage done by the spill would take more time to determine.
"Still being determined by Alberta Environment and Alberta Transportation," Drinkwater said. "That won't be known until the cleanup is complete, as far as the level of damage or the amount of damage or the costs."
