Just after 6:30 Tuesday morning, officials responded to an accident involving a truck carrying 10-12 liquid substance barrels at the intersection of Hillsborough and Armenia Avenues.  As a result of the impact, 2 of those containers fell off of the truck and spilled onto the roadway. 

HAZMAT and DOT response teams were called to clean-up approximately 60 gallons of sodium silicate, a slippery compound used for a variety of purposes including auto cooling system repairs, passive fire protection, and textile and lumber processing.  Sodium silicate in this form is not toxic to breathe.

At last check, officials predicted that the scene will not be reopened to traffic for up to several hours.  Traffic is jammed in both directions along Hillsborough Avenue from Macdill through to Nebraska Avenues.  Tampa Police Officer, Lisa Parashis, advises motorists to avoid the area.  Alternate east and west routes include Sligh Avenue and Martin Luther King Boulevard.

The truck driver was charged with failure to properly secure a load.