Photo: U.S. Forest Service - Six Rivers National Forest
Law enforcement reported that a truck driver dumped 2,000 gallons of "hot asphalt binder" in a Northern California forest this week. According to SFGATE, the driver is believed to have been under the influence when the accident occurred.
California Highway Patrol said 58-year-old Raoul Payette, Jr. was driving on Highway 199 in Del Norte County with a damaged tire. When he neared the town of Gasquet, his semi-truck drifted off the road and hit a power pole that fell onto the highway. He reportedly kept driving for another mile until the trailer he was towing overturned. Inside the trailer were 2,000 gallons of "hot asphalt binder" that began seeping into the Smith River, according to officials from Six Rivers National Forest.
"Asphalt binder turns into a solid substance once the temperature of the binder reaches about 100-125 degrees — which means when the material hit the cold river it turned into a solid," national forest spokespeople wrote in a Facebook post. "Although we are still concerned with possible harm done to natural resources, knowing more about the substance re-assures us the spread of liquid material in the river is minimal."
Forest workers, Caltrans, Del Norte County Office of Emergency Services, and other agencies quickly helped to minimize the spread of the chemicals and they believe there are no impacts on water quality.