Truck Accident Bogs Down Traffic, Small Amount Of Fuel Leaked Into Bay

times press, Feb 22, 2005

 A Traffic on U.S. Highway 101 was snarled for hours Friday when an empty tractor trailer slammed into the guardrail of the Slough Bridge, but fire crews were able to prevent most of the leaking fuel and antifreeze from oozing into the Eureka Slough.

The Eureka Fire Department said firefighters responded to the bridge around 1 p.m. and found the crashed truck and the leaking fuel tank.

Firefighters immediately began to dam the bridge drains and other local agencies were notified.

Other firefighters stopped the tank from leaking while personnel from the California Highway Patrol, Humboldt County Environmental Health, the California Department of Fish and Game, the Coast Guard, Caltrans and an environmental contractor arrived.

"Because of the initial crew's actions, contamination to the slough was significantly reduced," stated an EFD press release. "There was a small amount of product that entered the slough."

Traffic on northbound U.S. Highway was backed up to the Humboldt County Courthouse into the afternoon.

Eureka Police Officer Wayne Cox said the truck's driver, Charles Anderson, 29, of Redwood Valley, failed to stay in his lane, which will result in a traffic citation.

Cox said the cost of the accident will be substantial because of the number of agencies that responded.