CLINTONVILLE, PA. — A truck hauling a tank of hydrofluoric acid westbound on Interstate 80 lost its load when the tank split open, causing traffic to back up for miles just east of the Mercer County line.

Pennsylvania State Police said the acid, a corrosive used primarily in glass finishing and etching, spilled onto the highway and ran into adjacent streams shortly after noon Wednesday.

Hazardous material clean-up crews were still at the scene late into the evening, and police said they hoped to have the westbound lanes reopened by midnight.

The truck is owned by Air Products and Chemicals Inc. of Tamaqua, Pa., and authorities said the company would have to bear the cost of the cleanup.

Police said there were no injuries.

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