Update at 11:15 a.m.: Officials report that Highway 23 has been re-opened after Virginia State Police worked to clean up a dangerous tanker-truck wreck that occurred Tuesday night.
Update at 7:36 a.m.: News Channel 11's Ted Overbay on the scene of the accident says police aren't letting him close to the accident scene. He reports the road is still closed, but may re-open within the next few minutes.
Big Stone Gap, Virginia Fire Chief Bill Chandler said approximately 6 homes were evacuated, some residents staying in a nearby motel.
Chandlers and some fire crews were checked out at a local hospital.
**You can hear Chief Bill Chandler's exclusive interview with News Channel 11's Josh Smith this morning just past 6 a.m. by clicking on the video link.
The story has progressed since that hour, but this was the lastest from the scene at that hour.
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A major traffic artery through southwest Virginia is shut down this morning after a tractor-trailer carrying a hazardous material wrecked last night, forcing the evacuation of several homes.
It happened in Big Stone Gap, in Wise County between the two Big Stone Gap exits on Highway 23 just before 7 p.m. last night.
A tanker truck carrying acetic anhydride was headed north when it lost control, officials say, and crossed the median before landing in the southbound lane. The tank ruptured, exposing crews on the scene and triggering the evacuation of a few nearby homes.
All lanes of US Highway 23 between the two Big Stone Gap exits are still closed and may be for a few more hours.
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