Liquid hydrogen release from a tanker

The tanker truck was carrying nearly 13,000 gallons of liquid hydrogen (3480 kg). While turning around in the parking place of a local grocery store, the driver hit the base of a light pole. The vent valve of the LH2 tank was severed and started leaking liquid hydrogen. One of the source reported that the leaking hydrogen created an evaporting pool on the ground witha diamter of 19.2 yards (17.6 m).

Experts from both the U.S. and Canada arrived to investigate the accident. They evacuated all local businesses and roads leading to the grocery store parking lot. Officials were able to off-load the liquid hydrogen from the damaged tanker truck to another tanker and remove it from the area. Nobody was physically harmed by the incident. The intervention lasted approximately 20 hours.

One source reported a loss of only 2000 gallon of hydrogen (540 kg), corresponding to approximately 15% of the total content. Another source reported a loss of 1470 kg, corresponding to 42% of the content. The latter source (See refrence, Luo e al.) reprot also that the spill lasted 4 minutes, with a max leak rate of 2190 pounds/minute (990 kg/minute).

ROOT CAUSE: a mistake in manoeuvring.

vent line

The accident occurred when the driver was turning in a parking place.

DESCRIPTION OF THE UNIT
The tank was 40 feet long with adiameter of 8 feet.
Tank Volume 15,040 gallons
The quantity of hydrogen carried corresponded to 86% of the maximal tansport capacity of 4030 kg.

no explosions, no injuries, and no damage to any nearby houses or businesses.
One source reported a loss of only 2000 gallon of hydrogen (540 kg), corresponding to approximately 15% of the total content. Another source reported a loss of 3234 punds (1470 kg), corresponding to 42% of the content.

the driver received a traffic violation

As experts from both the U.S. and Canada arrived to investigate the accident and help determine the safest way to handle the incident, officials eventually were able to off-load the liquid hydrogen from the damaged tanker truck to another tanker and remove it from the area. The whole incident lasted about 20 hours and resulted in no explosions, no injuries, and no damage to any nearby houses or businesses.

After the crash into the pole, local officials on hand realised the danger because the truck was properly labelled with a UN1966 placard. Therefore, officials were able to respond quickly and evacuated all local businesses and roads leading to the grocery store parking lot where the accident took place. Officials went door to door to local residents recommending that they seek shelter. The main goal was to not only keep everyone in nearby houses and businesses informed of the incident and safe, but to also stop any potential leaking.
This conforms the importance of the proper label, made clearly visible on the hazardous materials transporter.