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Chemical in creek killing thousands of fish

Posted at 10:59 AM, Jun 15, 2016
and last updated 2016-06-15 14:13:25-04

GREENE COUNTY, Ind. -- A chemical spill in Greene County, Indiana has killed thousands of fish, an official with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources said Wednesday. 

The spill began as a traffic crash. A tank of anhydrous ammonia spilled into a residential yard. The fire department evacuated people nearby, but had to spray the chemical to keep everybody safe. That's how the chemical ended up in Lattas Creek.

A DNR officer said thousands of fish were killed. The spilled killed Lattas Creek from the scene of the crash to where it empties into White River.

Ammonium mixes with water and there's no way to separate the two. 

The chemical is likely now in the White River, which will dilute the anhydrous ammonia.