North Texas Chemical Company Having Safety Issues
UPDATE (7/10/13) -- KRLD reported that chemical trucks involved in several accidents in Ellis County were operated by Magnablend. While the trucks were transporting material to or from the Magnablend facility in Waxahachie, the trucks were not operated by Magnablend but were actually operated by independent trucking companies, including Alliance Transport Inc. and Harris Transportation Group LLC. KRLD regrets this error.
WAXAHACHIE (CBSDFW.COM) -- Three times in the last two months, chemical trucks operated by Waxahachie-based Magnablend have been involved in hazardous material spills that have required state intervention.
Records show that two of the trucks overturned, spilling hundreds of gallons of chemicals in Ellis County. A third didn't overturn, but lost part of its cargo on the shoulder of Old Buena Vista Road, forcing the road to be shut down.
Ellis County Commissioner Paul Perry only learned of the two prior accidents after he was called to the third last Friday afternoon.
"We like having the tax base and we like having the industry in this county, but we need to make sure that the folks voices are heard and their safety concerns are at least acknowledged," said Perry.
"Right now, since March, we're running on one [accident] a month on average," said David Vance, who lives nearby in Ellis County.
Vance has been concerned since Magnablend's chemical plant burned in October of 2011 after employees mishandled chemicals. Magnablend was cited by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration for seven serious violations and levied a $45,000 fine in the incident.
Despite protests from Ellis County residents, Magnablend relocated to the old Superconducting Super Collider site just west of Waxahachie.
Now, with trucks frequently traveling through neighborhoods around the site, resident Alex Schindler feels the drivers are being reckless.
"The trucks are speeding. I've seen it myself personally, and we've had lots of complaints about the trucks speeding."
KRLD reached out to Magnablend's CEO, but he never returned our calls.
Magnablend was formed in 1979 and is a privately held Texas corporation specializing in custom chemical manufacturing.
Also Check Out:
- 6 Dead After North Texas Tornado Outbreak
- West First Reponder Posts Erratic Facebook Messages
- Duncanville Teacher On Leave After Student Viral Video Rant
- Nordstrom No Longer Tracking Customer Phones
- Severe Weather Pictures: May 15, 2013
MOST VIEWED GALLERIES
- PHOTOS: Your Pet Pictures
- PHOTOS: Dallas St. Patrick's Day Parade
- PHOTOS: Pope Francis I
