Memory of catastrophic ammonia release on freeway still making Internet rounds

This photo shows the ammonia truck's chassis and vehicle parts being hauled away after the fatal accident and chemical spill of May, 11, 1976. This photo shows the ammonia truck's chassis and vehicle parts being hauled away after the fatal accident and chemical spill of May, 11, 1976. Photo: Chronicle File Photo: Chronicle File Image 1 of / 33 Caption Close Memory of catastrophic ammonia release on freeway still making Internet rounds 1 / 33 Back to Gallery

Perhaps it was the Monday afternoon rush-hour wreck on the westbound Katy Freeway's managed lanes that tied up traffic for hours, but something has stirred Houston's public memory of a nearly 40-year-old roadway catastrophe.

On May 11, 1976, a tank truck of anhydrous ammonia fell onto the Southwest Freeway from the 610 West Loop above, releasing lethal fumes that killed seven and injured nearly 200, according to Houston Chronicle archives.

For some reason, memories from the accident began popping up again Monday on the Houston SubReddit page.

In Bayou City History: A blog about Houston's past, Chronicle editor J.R. Gonzales wrote that the truck, carrying 7,500 gallons of anhydrous ammonia, was northbound about 11:15 a.m. that Tuesday on the West Loop, headed to Corpus Christi from a chemical plant.

Exiting from 610 onto the Southwest Freeway, the driver lost control, hit a support column and fell 15 feet onto the freeway below, Gonzales wrote.

The accident claimed seven lives, including six who died at the scene or shortly afterwards: David Randle Whiteman, 48; Grace Gillebaard, 33; Earl Davis, 26; Gordon D. McAdams, 40; Robert Wisnoski, 64, and truck driver William Gregory Schmidt, 28, according to Gonzales' blog. Seventy-eight people were hospitalized, and more than 100 were treated for injuries.

Former beauty queen Karen Bijak, 27, died in 1979 of health complications stemming from the crash, he wrote.

On June 4, 2013, a truck carrying methanol crashed in virtually the exact same spot, tying up traffic for hours as Hazmat crews worked to clean up the mess. However, no significant injuries were reported.