Two New York State Troopers and a vehicle driver were transported to Upstate University Hospital after an exposure to a chemical on Interstate 81 that prompted a closure of a nine-mile stretch of the highway.

According to New York State Police, troopers responded to I-81 for a man unconscious inside a vehicle. They determined there was a chemical inside the car.

As a precaution, the highway was shut down in both directions between exit 14 for State Route 80 in Tully and exit 15 for U.S. Route 11 in Lafayette for most of Monday morning for a CCSERT team to inspect the scene. 

The troopers faced minor injuries from having to break the windows to get into the vehicle. 

Both lanes of I-81 reopened just after 10 a.m.