Acid spill closes portion of SC 170

A muriatic acid spill on S.C. 170 led officials to close a portion of the road and divert traffic for several hours while the Southern Beaufort County Hazmat and Rescue team cleaned the scene.

Muriatic acid -- used to clean stone work and swimming pools, among other things -- poses respiratory and skin irritation risks, Battalion Chief Vernon Edenfield of the Bluffton Township Fire District said.

At least five, one-gallon containers of the acid were involved in the incident. The amount spilled on the road was not known Thursday night.

Major Richard Roper of the Beaufort County Sheriff's Office said officials believe the containers fell from a truck.

Officials did not know who was responsible for the spill.

The spill happened around 5:50 p.m. Hazmat crews arrived and began cleaning up the spill around 7:20 p.m. Roads were expected to reopen by 8:30.

The highway was closed between Midway Village Mobile Home Park and Webster's

Marine. Traffic was diverted to Interstate 95.