Update: Colonie roads reopen; no spill found: Ammonia-like odor sends truck driver to hospital

Jul 30, 2008 (Albany Times Union - McClatchy-Tribune News Service via COMTEX) -- FDX | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating -- Jul. 30--COLONIE -- Old Wolf Road and Northway Exit 4 have reopened after hazardous materials crews discovered no spill inside a FedEx truck laden with 22,000 lbs of undisclosed chemicals.

The driver of the truck was taken to Albany Medical Center Hospital after smelling an odor from his vehicle -- a discovery that drew hazmat crews from around Albany County, authorities said.

Initial tests of the air around the truck lead authorities to believe there was no leak, but they didn't know for sure until a hazardous materials team, clad in large self-contained suits, got inside the truck, said Colonie's First Deputy Fire Coordinator Gerald Paris Jr.

Paris declined to identify the type of chemicals on the truck, but he said they were on the vehicle's bill of laden and were contained in boxes and barrels. Authorities turned the truck back over to FedEx just after noon.

Several nearby businesses were evacuated, including the Koto Japanese restaurant, as a precaution.

Authorities were summoned around 9:40 a.m. after the trucker detected the odor. His condition was not immediately available.

The Hotel Indigo, formerly the Wingate, remained open while crews used the property as a staging area. Hazmat crews from West Albany, the city of Albany and the Watervliet Arsenal were on the scene.

The incident started with a routine safety check by Colonie police. They were doing a seat-belt check point when the driver realized he may have had a problem with his load.

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