A drum of nitric acid exploded inside a truck Thursday on Interstate 83 in northern Baltimore County, splashing over vehicles and shutting down traffic in both directions for hours.

Maryland environment officials said a chemical reaction between the acid and its steel container caused the explosion, and the warm weather may have caused the drum to overpressurize.

Recommended Stories

Teen in Bay Bridge crash may have fallen asleep, police say

Man blames wreck on wet paint left on road

Bay Bridge?s concrete barriers an ?engineering failure,? official says