TEUTOPOLIS, Ill. (WAND) — WAND News is learning more about the victims of the deadly crash and anhydrous ammonia leak in Teutopolis.
The Elmore family told NBC affiliate WTWO, they were out of town for the weekend when they got the call about the crash.
"I had gotten a call from Jordan who had a friend who was part of a roadblock in Montrose and he informed us that there had been an accident close to our house," Megan Elmore said.
The couple was worried about a friend who had been staying in their spare room.
"He was a high school friend of Jordan's. They went through most of grade school and all of high school together, he was a very dear friend of ours," Elmore added.
She said Kenneth Bryan has his 7-year old daughter and 10-year old son visit every other weekend.
"They had gotten home just 2 minutes before the accident happened. And him and his kids were all outside in the driveway when the initial plume of anhydrous came through," Elmore said.
All three lost their lives from the ammonia. The Elmores have not been able to return home because of the hazardous gas.
"We still have no idea when or if we'll be able to return home. Or what we have that is even going to be salvageable," Elmore said.
Related Links
- Tanker of anhydrous ammonia that leaked in Teutopolis crash has been drained, patched
- Attempt to pass a tanker may have led to the deadly chemical crash in Illinois, official says
- Victims of Teutopolis crash identified
- State Rep. Niemerg calls for IDOT accountability following deadly crash, HAZMAT leak
- 5 died of exposure to chemical in central Illinois crash, preliminary autopsies find
- ISP looking for vehicle possibly involved in deadly Teutopolis crash that caused HAZMAT leak
Mayor David Repking said fire, police and emergency responders provided life saving care in the moments after the crash.
"They were there almost immediately. I mean we have a very well-trained unit as soon as they got the call — they were out there. We had EMTs from different towns coming in," Mayor Repking told WAND News.
Fire Departments from at least seven towns, and local hazmat teams, provided critical support at the scene.
Now, the mayor is looking at ways to improve emergency notifications.
"We're looking to see how we can learn from this incident and make it better," Mayor Repking explained.
The mayor is encouraging those who want to help, to consider donating to the various fundraisers and GoFundMe pages that have been started to support the families of the victims and those who were injured.
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