A large amount of acid leaked onto a Zhejiang Province highway after two trucks crashed into one another yesterday, China News Service reported.

The accident happened near the Shengzhou-Huangze section of Yongjin Highway about 4am when a truck carrying 13 tons of concentrated sulfuric acid, nine tons more than capacity, lost control and hit the vehicle ahead of it.

The acid was being transported in 325 plastic barrels, many of which leaked after the collision. Shards of glass were strewn about the site, the report said.

To prevent further damage, an emergency response team hosed down the road to dilute the acid and dumped sand on the road, the report said.

The team also checked and removed the remaining acid barrels on the truck. After two hours, the road was clear, the report said.

The truck was transporting the acid to Ningbo in Zhejiang. It operated without a permit and attempted to avoid being caught by delivering its load at night, the report said, citing a policeman at the scene.

An investigation is underway.

(Shanghai Daily May 7, 2008)