The Thursday evening drive along U.S. 52 just east of Brookville turned chaotic around 5:20 p.m., when a multi-vehicle crash left at least one person hurt and brought in hazardous-materials crews. Deputies say a westbound SUV drifted left of center and hit a pickup that was towing two anhydrous ammonia tanks. The SUV came to rest and then became fully engulfed in flames. The driver, 19-year-old Kira G. Gamble of Connersville, got out before the fire and was taken to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center for treatment.
According to a post from the Franklin County Sheriff's Department, the pickup was a 2024 Ram driven by 27-year-old Jacob A. Orschell when one of the anhydrous ammonia tanks ruptured and began leaking after the collision. The chain reaction also pulled in three more vehicles: a 2016 Chevrolet Silverado driven by 27-year-old Rebecca D. Holland, a 2023 Ford F-150 driven by 33-year-old Donald Rea, and a 2017 Hyundai Elantra driven by 22-year-old Ashley M. Moore. Letts EMS took Gamble to UC Medical Center, and deputies said she had already exited the SUV before it became fully engulfed in flames.
Anhydrous Ammonia Can Cause Fast, Severe Injuries
Anhydrous ammonia is a pressurized, colorless gas that turns into a corrosive solution when it contacts moisture, which means it can immediately burn eyes and airways and trigger coughing and shortness of breath. According to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, even relatively low airborne concentrations can cause rapid respiratory irritation, and severe inhalation exposures can lead to pulmonary edema and long-term lung damage.
Road Closure And Multi-Agency Response
U.S. 52 was shut down between Blue Creek Road and Holland Road for about three hours while crews secured the crash scene and worked to stop the ammonia leak. Deputies said the Franklin County Sheriff's Department was assisted by the Indiana State Police, Brookville Police Department, Brookville Volunteer Fire Department, Cedar Grove Volunteer Fire Department, and Letts EMS as responders fought the vehicle fire and stabilized the tanks, according to Franklin County Sheriff's Department.
Investigation And Safety Oversight
State deputies are still working to piece together the events that led to the crash and the tank rupture. Federal regulators and safety officials have long warned about failures of nurse tanks and other anhydrous-ammonia equipment, and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and PHMSA issued safety guidance on nurse-tank operations after earlier catastrophic releases. Those advisories often shape inspections and enforcement after highway incidents. FMCSA and PHMSA. The University of Cincinnati Medical Center is the region's only Level I adult trauma center and typically receives the most serious crash injuries from the area, as per UC Medical Center.
