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11 people taken to hospital after HazMat scare

Posted at 12:53 PM, Apr 02, 2014
and last updated 2014-04-03 08:16:38-04

MECKLENBURG COUNTY, Va. (WTVR) - Eleven people were taken to the hospital after the wrong chemical was put in a tank at the Roanoke River Service Authority Water Treatment Works in Mecklenburg County.

The 11 people include seven firefighters, one rescue crew member, two employees at the plant and a delivery driver.  Some of people were taken to the hospital because they inhaled chemical fumes, others as a precaution.

The HazMat incident has not affected the water supply in the county and the water is safe, authorities said.

A tanker truck driver offloading chemicals at the plant accidentally put the wrong chemical in the wrong tank, authorities told CBS 6 senior reporter Wayne Covil.

HazMat crews were called in to remove the chemical.

Sheriff's deputies went door to door to tell people who live near the plant about the large number of fire and EMS crews in the area.

The facility is located in the 5400 block of Route 1 in South Hill.