Published: April 23, 2009 10:07 am      

Local investigator overcome by fumes

Galen Scott

gscott@weatherforddemocrat.com

POOLVILLE ­— A spokesman for the Parker County Environmental Department confirmed a male investigator was overcome by fumes after coming in contact with unknown chemicals found in a bar ditch Wednesday afternoon.

Joel Kertok declined to identify the investigator, citing a desire to protect the man’s health information privacy. He was reportedly transported by ambulance to Harris Methodist Hospital Fort Worth and is in stable condition.

Officials said at approximately 3:30 p.m., the environmental officer came into contact with three 5-gallon buckets in the south bar ditch of Erwin Road, a short distance east of the junction with Zion Hill Road.

Initial reports suggest two of the buckets may have contained an agricultural insecticide known as methyl parathion. A pending chemical analysis is expected to yield a final determination.

Methyl parathion is used to control chewing and sucking insects in a wide range of crops. The substance is considered extremely hazardous to humans and is highly toxic when inhaled or ingested.

A hazardous material clean-up crew arrived at the scene shortly after 5 p.m. Motor vehicle traffic in both directions on Erwin Lane was blocked for several hours while workers contained the chemicals.

After a brief inspection, a TAS Environmental crew member told authorities at the scene the material in one bucket appeared to be a petroleum-based product. He said the other buckets contained a “thick, clear liquid” that is used as an agricultural pesticide.

While stopped at the road block on her way home, local resident Michelle Barnett expressed concerns about any potential threat the chemicals may have posed to her family.

“I’m just wondering what it is; I live so close,” she said.

According to Kertok, the chemicals constituted no threat to the public at large.

“The fumes that our guy came in contact with were localized,” he said.

Kertok said county environmental officers will likely investigate who was responsible for dumping the hazardous chemicals.