Wreck causes detour on U.S. 84

By Malynda Fulton

The Valdosta Daily Times

LANIER COUNTY — An early morning wreck that involved a tanker truck has left U.S. 84 near the Lanier-Lowndes County line drenched in sodium hydroxide.

Authorities are waiting on a team to arrive and pump the wasted substance, said Lakeland Fire Chief Chuck Jones. He asserted that the substance never made it off the road and is not considered hazardous in its present form.

"None of the environment is at risk," Jones said. "However, the substance can be hazardous if mixed with anything else."

The road will remain closed from 10:00 p.m. tonight until 4 a.m. Friday, according to the Georgia Department of Transportation.

The temporary detour will be as follows:

• Motorists traveling east on U.S. 84/SR38 will be detoured left (north) on S.R. 135 in Naylor; then turn right (east) on U.S. 221/S.R. 31/S.R. 37 in Lakeland; then turn right (south) on U.S. 129/S.R. 11and travel back to U.S. 84/S.R. 38.

• Motorists traveling west on U.S. 84/SR38 will be detoured right (north) on U.S. 129/S.R. 11; then turn left (west) on U.S. 221/S.R. 31/S.R. 37; then turn left (south) on S.R. 135 in Lakeland and travel back to U.S. 84/S.R. 38.

The Valdosta Daily Times will have more on this story in Friday's paper.