ST. CHARLES COUNTY, Mo. — Four people were taken by ambulance from a water treatment facility in St. Charles County after a gas exposure at the facility, an ambulance district spokesman said.
The incident occurred at a water treatment plan along Highway 94 in Augusta, Missouri, at around noon on Friday. Kyle Gaines with the St. Charles County Ambulance District said at least four people were taken from the facility complaining of difficulty breathing after being exposed to hydrogen fluoride, which he said produces a byproduct of chlorine gas.
Cottleville Fire Chief Skip Stephens said the incident was a result of an unintentional release of hydrogen fluoride caused by the unintentional mix of two chemicals.
Gaines said two of the people had life-threatening injuries and two others did not have life-threatening injuries.
Stephens said with this particular chemical it is common for symptoms to worsen over time so their conditions could change.
The St. Charles County Police Department said Highway 94 is shut down about a mile north and half a mile south of the plant, which is located at 1635 S Missouri 94.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol is handling the closure. A highway patrol spokesman said the road closure is precautionary, and the St. Charles County Police Department told them the spill is contained.
This story will be updated when more information becomes available.
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