A situation involving a uranium ore truck driver who fell ill while on the road in Flagstaff, Arizona, was swiftly handled by local authorities with no sign of a radiation threat, officials said. Yesterday afternoon, on May 8, the driver, who was not identified, started feeling sick with flu-like symptoms near Hwy 89 and Townsend Winona Road, and pulled over to seek help.
Deputies from the Coconino County Sheriff's Office were the first responders, and they, in coordination with the Flagstaff Fire Department, took immediate steps to ensure the safety of the driver and the public. According to a press release from Coconino County, "Deputies called the Flagstaff Fire Department, who deployed an instrument designed to detect radiation levels." This move was precautionary, given the nature of the cargo the driver was transporting.
The tests conducted by the fire department personnel revealed that radiation levels in the vicinity of the truck were within a safe range. "Flagstaff Fire Department personnel deployed this instrument and found the radiation levels to be in the safe range,” the Coconino County report stated. There was apparently no connection between the driver's symptoms and the uranium ore he was hauling.
The driver, who maintained full consciousness throughout the incident, opted not to be transported to a medical facility after being assessed by the authorities. "The driver refused to be transported by Guardian Medical Transport," per information from the Coconino County report. Following the incident, the truck was removed from the scene, normal traffic resumed, and the episode was considered resolved without further complications.
