The following synopsis of information was provided the State of
New Mexico via phone:
Sometime during the overnight hours between 02/10/24 and 02/11/24, a rollover accident occurred on Interstate 25 within Albuquerque, NM. Following the accident, an Instrotek moisture density gauge (serial number 4578) containing 11 mCi of cesium (Cs-137) and 44 mCi of americium-beryllium (Am-241Be) could not be located at the scene.
Local law enforcement responded to the accident and filed a report. The driver was transported to a hospital and was in stable condition.
More information will be provided as it is obtained.
- * * UPDATE ON 2/13/24 AT 1038 EST FROM VICTOR DIAZ TO ADAM KOZIOL * * *
The licensee provided a follow-up report on this incident. The driver of the vehicle is still in the hospital and was unable to confirm the presence of the gauge in the truck prior to the accident. Based on the gauge and other test equipment missing at the crash site, the licensee suspects that it may have been stolen prior to the accident. The last confirmed location of the gauge was at Isleta Resort and Casino (Pueblo of Isleta, Federal Reservation).
Notified R4DO (Vossmar), ILTAB (email), NMSS Events (email), and CNSNS (email)
The following update was provided by the New Mexico Radiation Control Bureau (the Bureau) via email:
The licensee reported on 02/13/24 at 1603 MST, the density moisture gauge was recovered. The licensee will provide a written report to the Bureau at their earliest opportunity.
The damage was to the transportation box, the gauge is being leak tested, and the gauge handle was still in the locked [safe] position.
Notified R4DO (Vossmar), and NMSS Events Notification, ILTAB (MacDonald), CNSNS (Mexico) via email.
THIS MATERIAL EVENT CONTAINS A 'Less than Cat 3' LEVEL OF RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL
Sources that are "Less than
IAEA Category 3 sources," are either sources that are very unlikely to cause permanent injury to individuals or contain a very small amount of radioactive material that would not cause any permanent injury. Some of these sources, such as
moisture density gauges or thickness
gauges that are Category 4, the amount of unshielded radioactive material, if not safely managed or securely protected, could possibly - although it is unlikely - temporarily injure someone who handled it or were otherwise in contact with it, or who were close to it for a period of many weeks. For additional information go to
http://www-pub.iaea.org/MTCD/publications/PDF/Pub1227_web.pdf