Rest areas close due to acidic soap

Barricades and cones line the I-10 West Welcome Center on the Alabama-Florida state line. The Alabama Department of Transportation closed the facility after welcome center employees smelled a substance with an "acidic odor" inside the men's restroom soap dispenser.

"Well, I think we've got a sick person on our hands," said Tourist, Bob Lyons. Tourists and residents stopping on the East bound side of I-10 were shocked to hear what happened just down the road.

Trucker, Lee Godfrey says it could be anyone. "You don't know if it's a truck driver or some crazy person," Godfrey said. "I mean, why do people snatch kids? People are sick."

But it turns out Alabama isn't the only state that's discovered this issue. Florida Department Of Transportation says it found an unknown substance at a comfort station on southbound I-75 in Marion County, Florida.

A similar substance was also found at the rest area in Chilton County, Alabama Monday morning.
Both of those locations are now closed.

Still, travelers say they're keeping an open mind when it comes to rest areas. "Sure, I'll go to the rest stop, but I'll be a little more cautious about how I clean my hands," Lyons said.

The substances found are still unknown. Both the Alabama and Florida Emergency Management Departments are testing them right now. So far, no injuries have been reported.