LA PORTE – Two reactor units exploded at the Goodyear Bayport Plant in La Porte Saturday night.  The explosion caused a pipe to burst, spraying Methylethyl Benzine, a chemical that may cause respiratory distress, into the air.

In addition to spraying into the air, the chemical spread onto the roadway and ditches around Bay Area Blvd. and Fairmont Parkway, hitting a few of the cars driving by.  Some of the drivers stopped, and not knowing what happened, accidentally touched the chemical. 

One woman was transported to the hospital with respiratory problems.  At least seven to 10 other people were also sent to the hospital.   No one at the plant was hurt, but several people driving by the plant said when the incident occurred, the air smelled like bleach.

Mary Miller and her 4-year-old daughter were two of people who drove by the plant.

“We got a pretty good whiff of it,” said Miller. "We had our windows rolled down and we smelled a really heavy smell of bleach."

But unlike the people who went to the hospital Saturday night, Miller waited until Sunday.  That’s when she heard the chemical she smelled could be dangerous. 

“I was coughing really bad this morning,” said Miller.

Miller, who is also four weeks pregnant, spent the day in the hospital getting both herself and her daughter checked out. Everything appeared to be okay, but they're worried about long-term effects.

Jeff Suggs, who is the Emergency Management Coordinator for La Porte, said the chemical, which is used to make tires, can cause irritation to the eyes and throat, respiratory problems, nausea and headaches.

“It [benzene] is similar to any type of strong, potent solvent material that you would find at home," said Suggs.

A two-mile stretch of Bay Area Blvd. was completely closed both ways from Fairmont Parkway to Choat Road after the incident. Officials said it would remain closed for most of Sunday.  To clean up the roadway, Suggs said crews were pouring sand over the road to soak up the chemical.  Once the sand is done, sweeper trucks would clean up the material and put it in barrels for disposal.

“If people have of this material on them or their vehicle, they need to get in touch with the Office of Emergency Management,” said Jeff Suggs.

The number to call is 281-470-0010.