McPHERSON, Kan. (Dec. 3, 2025, 12:00 AM) — Segments of the Old 81 Bypass and Kansas Avenue/US 56 on the west edge of McPherson have reopened after a semi loaded with 34 thousand pounds of hydrochloric acid overturned at US 56 and Old Highway 81, which led to evacuations of businesses and residents in the area.
McPherson Fire Chief Chad Mayberry said last night the remediation contractor will return this morning to complete the removal of contaminated soil adjacent to the intersection. One lane will be closed while this work is being done, but the intersection will remain open.
The accident occurred just after 9 AM, and led to a major response that included all local emergency responders along with the Kansas Highway Patrol and an additional hazmat team from Salina.
The Red Cross briefly opened a warming shelter for affected persons at The Cedars Conference Center, which closed around 5 PM.
A six mile segment of US 56 from 8th Avenue east of Conway to Hickory Street and the bypass between Avenue A and 1st Street reopened about 11:30 PM after the last of six totes of hydrochloric acid was transferred to another trailer.
McPHERSON, Kan. (Dec. 2, 2025, 9:00 PM) — A remediation contractor brought in after a semi loaded with hydrochloric acid overturned at the intersection of US 56 and the Old 81 Bypass on the west edge of McPherson just after 9 a.m. Tuesday had as of mid-evening five of the six totes of product it was hauling.
McPherson Fire Chief Chad Mayberry said in a statement Tuesday night those totes have been loaded onto another trailer provided by the towing company on scene, and at that time anticipated the scene could be cleared overnight. Earlier Mayberry had estimated around 34 thousand gallons of hydrochloric acid were on-board when the semi tipped on its side turning from the bypass onto US 56 going west.
After the incident was reported a number of businesses and residents in the area around the site were evacuated. McPherson Fire hazmat crews placed booms around a storm drain nearby to prevent leaking product from getting into the sewage system.
Multiple other agencies responded to the incident, including an additional hazmat crew from Salina called in by the Office of the State Fire Marshal. A warming shelter had been opened by the Red Cross at The Cedars Conference Center, which closed by late Tuesday afternoon.
The incident prompted the closing of roads in the area, including the Old 81 Bypass a half mile either side of US 56, along with Kansas Avenue west from Hickory Street and US 56 east from 8th Avenue near Conway.
The driver of the semi was able to self-extricate from the vehicle and was checked by EMS, but he declined further treatment.
McPHERSON, Kan. (Dec. 2, 2025, 1:00 PM) — An unknown number of people and businesses were evacuated Tuesday morning after hydrochloric acid began leaking from a semi tanker that overturned at the intersection of Kansas Avenue and the Old 81 Bypass on the west edge of McPherson.
McPherson Fire Chief Chad Mayberry said 911 dispatchers were notified of the incident at 9:07 AM. There was 34,000 pounds of the fluid in the tanker, and at this time it’s not known how much spilled. The driver of the semi was able to self-extricate, and he was evaluated on-scene by McPherson EMS after which he refused treatment and transport.
The McPherson Fire Hazmat Team made entry to the truck and placed booms around a storm drain to prevent leaking acid from entering into the sewage system. Mayberry said an environmental contractor is en-route to handle the clean-up and removal of spilled product.
A regional hazmat team has also responded from the Salina Fire Department through the Office of the State Fire Marshal. The Kansas Highway Patrol and Kansas Department of Transportation also have responded along with local agencies including McPherson County Emergency Management.
McPherson County Emergency Management Director Tim Hawkinson told Ad Astra News a warming shelter has been set up by the Red Cross at the Cedars Conference Center at 1021 Cedars Drive.
Roads currently closed include US 56 (Kansas Avenue) from Hickory Street in McPherson west to 8th Avenue east of Conway, and the Old 81 Bypass from First Street south to Avenue A. South of US 56 the Bypass is also K-153, which connects to K-61 southwest of McPherson.
Additional information is expected to be released later this afternoon.
McPHERSON, Kan. (Dec. 2, 2025, 11:00 AM — Sections of US 56 and the Old 81 bypass on the west edge of McPherson are closed after a tanker containing hydrochloric acid overturned this morning at the intersection of Kansas Avenue at the bypass or K-153 south from the intersection.
McPherson County Emergency Management deputy director Tim Hawkinson told Ad Astra News there have been some evacuations in the vicinity of the incident, how many he wasn’t sure of, but police and fire personnel have notified those affected.
At the present time Kansas Avenue is closed West of Hickory, and US 56 is closed on the west end at 8th Avenue. The bypass has been closed from Avenue A north to 1st Street.
Hawkinson said it could be several hours before the roads reopen as resources to address the incident are en route at this time.
