An ammonia leak in Weatherford, Oklahoma, led to a large-scale emergency response late Wednesday night after a tanker truck began leaking the hazardous gas, causing evacuations and hospitalizations. According to KOCO, the leak occurred in the parking lot of the Holiday Inn Express near East Main Street and Cypress Drive, prompting about 500 people to evacuate to the Pioneer Event Center at Southwestern Oklahoma State University. Emergency management officials issued a shelter-in-place order, which was later lifted, and Weatherford Public Schools, along with the university, canceled Thursday's classes as a precaution.
The incident was classified as an accident after a semi-truck, parked in a hotel lot to allow the truck driver to rest, was found with damaged equipment, leading to the leak. In a statement obtained by News 9, Weatherford Police Chief Angelo Orefice said the hospital saw 30-35 patients. Evacuated residents described the smell of ammonia as "spicy" and reported physical discomfort, with one individual stating, "We went out from the room and we saw people over there, you know, they were telling us they were also coughing. So I understand something [was] wrong over there." Orefice recommended that those exposed put their clothes outside to help dissipate the ammonia.
A further investigation revealed an initial count of 36 individuals being hospitalized, 11 of whom were in critical condition and transferred to Oklahoma City metro area hospitals. All law enforcement responding to the scene were also exposed and have since been evaluated. Emergency alerts had been issued, and officials urged residents to be vigilant for symptoms such as burning eyes, difficulty breathing, or a burning sensation in the throat. Crews on-site faced challenges due to a lack of wind, which would have aided in dissipating the toxic plume, Weatherford Emergency Manager Mike Karlin told News 4.
East and westbound exits of I-40 were closed as authorities responded to the incident, and local businesses along Washington Street were advised to remain shut until the situation was resolved. Emergency services worked overnight to contain the spill and protect the community, while officials assessed the full impact of the accident. The coordinated efforts of first responders, city officials, and local residents highlighted the community’s response during the crisis.
