Chemical Leak at Virginia Plant Closes Road for 3 Hours

March 26, 2009

A 3-mile section of state Route 10 in Virginia has reopened after being shut down for three hours yesterday because of a chemical leak and fire at a Hopewell plant.

Evonic Goldschmidt Corp. said a small amount of sodium chlorite leaked from a storage drum and ignited at about 3:30 a.m. Wednesday.

Evonic spokesman Mike Sheridan says the fire caused minor damage to the shampoo factory. Plant workers extinguished the fire and no injuries were reported.

Police closed a section of Route 10 in Hopewell and neighboring Prince George County as a precaution. The highway was reopened by 6:45 a.m.
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Information from: Richmond Times-Dispatch