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Talcum powder spill closes part of I-90 near St. Regis

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A semi-truck crashed on Interstate 90 between St. Regis and De Borgia early Wednesday morning, spilling talcum powder on the eastbound lanes.

The Montana Highway Patrol says the semi-truck from Montana was traveling west on I-90 around a curve when the load on the trailer shifted just after 12:30 a.m.

The trailer then flipped, spilling large bags of talcum powder onto the eastbound lanes of I-90 .

A cleanup crew arrived on the scene shortly after 10 a.m. with vacuums to cleanup up the spill.

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UPDATE (1:30 p.m.)

Eastbound traffic on I-90 near the semi truck crash is now detoured. Eastbound traffic should detour at Exit 22 onto East Mullan Road to St. Regis.

The Montana Department of Transportation says to expect pilot vehicles, 35 mph, no passing, and delays. Westbound is still single lane with possible intermittent closures, delays, and reduced speeds.

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(first report)

The Montana Highway Patrol reports a hazardous spill that has closed a section of I-90 near St. Regis is talcum powder.

MHP Sgt. Sean Finley tells MTN News that a semi-truck from Montana was traveling west on Interstate 90 near mile marker 26 around a curve, when the load on the trailer shifted.

The trailer then flipped, spilling large bags of talcum powder onto the eastbound lanes of I-90 with at least two inches of talcum powder spilling onto the highway.

Sgt. Finley says that it’s considered hazardous when the talcum powder is airborne and a person breathes it in.

A clean up crew arrived on the scene shortly after 10a.m. with vacuums to cleanup up the spill. As of 11 a.m., both eastbound lanes of I-90 were closed, while one westbound lane is open.

MHP is investigating if speed was a factor in the accident. The driver was not hurt, but will be cited for the crash, according to Sgt. Finley.