LOS ANGELES (CNS) — About 10 container drums fell from a flatbed truck in the Jefferson Park area Tuesday, spilling an unknown substance onto the street and prompting a hazardous materials response, with authorities investigating if the liquid was related to drug production.

The spill occurred at about 8 a.m. in the 3000 block of South Crenshaw Boulevard, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department.

"Reportedly, a flatbed truck lost approximately 10 plastic 55-gallon drums, which spilled an unknown substance onto the street," according to an LAFD statement.

LAFD Capt. Erik Scott said the truck driver kept going, and the Los Angeles Police Department was notified.

A bystander, who came in contact with one of the barrels, was taken to a hospital as a precaution, Scott said.

"That individual didn't really have a medical complaint, but out of an abundance of caution we encouraged him to be evaluated at a hospital, and we did transport him in stable condition," Scott said.

Fire officials initially said a hazardous materials team determined that at least some of the barrels contained an "industrial detergent, similar to commercial hand soap," but "there was at least one other substance that remained to be determined."

Personnel from the multi-agency LA IMPACT task force — which focuses primarily on large drug-trafficking probes — were involved in the investigation, Scott said.

Traffic was routed away from the area while an investigation was conducted, a situation that was continuing early Tuesday afternoon, Scott said.

KNX Newsradio reported from the scene that authorities were trying to determine if the material may be chemicals used in the manufacture of illegal drugs. Investigators were checking security cameras in the area to see if they could find images of the truck that dropped the barrels or its license plate, KNX reported.