ENS Event | |
|---|---|
12:20 Sep 26, 2025 | |
| Title | Vehicle Carrying Nuclear Gauge Involved in an Accident |
| Event Description | The following information was received via email from the Virginia Radiation Materials Program (VRMP):
At approximately 1020 EDT on September 26, 2025, VRMP was notified of an automobile accident involving a vehicle carrying a portable nuclear gauge. At approximately 0820 EDT on September 26, 2025, a Troxler model 3430 portable nuclear density/moisture gauge (S/N 36802), containing 9 mCi of Cs-137 and 44 mCi of Am-241, was in a vehicle that was struck from behind in Chesterfield, VA. While a relatively minor accident, once it was noted that the radioactive material was present, the Chesterfield Hazardous Material team responded. The vehicle was isolated (300-meter perimeter), and the highway was shut down for approximately 2 hours2.314815e-5 days <br />5.555556e-4 hours <br />3.306878e-6 weeks <br />7.61e-7 months <br />. The authorized user notified his supervisor (assistant radiation safety officer (RSO), who then notified the RSO. The [assistant RSO] went to the site to evaluate the gauge. She notified VRMP. Per the assistant RSO, the gauge was appropriately blocked, braced, and secured in the trunk of the car when it was rear-ended. The car sustained damage but there was no apparent damage to the case or gauge. The licensee and the hazmat team surveyed the case/gauge and readings were within acceptable ranges indicating no source exposure. The case/gauge was moved to another of the licensee's vehicles and returned to the licensee's storage facility for further evaluation. There were no injuries as a result of the accident and no radiation exposures. VRMP will follow up with an investigation. Virginia event report number: VA250004 |
| Where | |
|---|---|
| Hillis-Carnes Engineering Associates Inc. Chesterfield, Virginia (NRC Region 1) | |
| License number: | 107-453-1 |
| Organization: | Virginia Rad Materials Program |
| Reporting | |
| Agreement State | |
| Time - Person (Reporting Time:+1.75 h0.0729 days <br />0.0104 weeks <br />0.0024 months <br />) | |
| Opened: | Sheila Nelson 14:05 Sep 26, 2025 |
| NRC Officer: | Josue Ramirez |
| Last Updated: | Sep 26, 2025 |
| 57955 - NRC Website | |
Hillis-Carnes Engineering Associates Inc. with Agreement State | |
WEEKMONTHYEARENS 579552025-09-26T12:20:00026 September 2025 12:20:00
[Table view]Agreement State Vehicle Carrying Nuclear Gauge Involved in an Accident 2025-09-26T12:20:00 | |