Nearly 500 pounds of liquid drugs, valued at approximately $3 million, were discovered inside a minivan following a crash that killed two men in Texas, sparking a federal investigation and an emergency response from a hazardous materials (Hazmat) team.
Police and fire crews arrived at the scene on Delga Street in Fort Worth around 11:30 a.m. on April 17, after the vehicle struck a parked car and then crashed into a nearby fence.
A male passenger died at the scene. The driver received first aid but did not survive. The identities of the two have not been released following this mysterious deadly shipment.
Inside the vehicle, authorities discovered 10 containers of liquid drugs. The severity of the incident has drawn comparisons to major cases like the seizure of 77 pounds of drugs in previous operations. Preliminary assessments suggest the driver may have lost consciousness after inhaling toxic fumes from the substance before the crash occurred.
A firefighter exposed to the drugs during the scene cleanup was taken for treatment and is currently in stable condition.
Police stated the vehicle was registered in Dallas and may be linked to activities similar to mobile meth labs operating between Dallas and Fort Worth.
A Fort Worth police spokesperson said the large quantity of dangerous chemicals spilled on the road posed a serious risk, warning that the consequences could have been much worse if the vehicle had collided with other cars or residential homes.
Federal authorities are continuing to investigate the source of the drugs and the associated network.
