Spilled load of fish guts blocks Hwy. 101 near Ilwaco

By KOMO Staff Published: Oct 26, 2012 at 12:57 PM PDT Last Updated: Oct 27, 2012 at 11:51 AM PDT

ILWACO, Wash. - Highway 101 was partially blocked near Ilwaco on Friday after a semi trailer tipped over onto its side and spilled a huge load of fish guts and fish heads all over the roadway.

State troopers responded to the scene, at the south end of Willapa Bay, at about 10:15 a.m. after receiving a report of a semi truck crash.

Arriving at the crash site, they found a semi trailer on its side and thousands of pounds of fish guts spilled over the highway and along the roadside.

Trooper Russ Winger of the Washington State Patrol said the semi truck was enroute from Ilwaco to a plant that processes fish remains into pet food.

He said it appears the fish guts sloshed around inside the trailer, causing it to sway and then tip over as the truck rounded a curve.

A tow truck was called in to remove the semi. But more than three hours later, the north lane of the highway was still blocked by the slippery, stinking mess.

A small notice on the state Department of Transportation's Facebook page said, "At least it's raining."

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62 comments

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oldster70

1 Like

Well the next time a dispatcher sends this driver to pick up a load of fish guts, I bet he asks if the trailer is full or if there is enough room for it to slosh around. Â I think I saw the troll on this story suggest the driver did not secure his load.Â Sorry troll, the load he picked up seems to have been in an enclosed trailer.Â Not much more could have been done except lots of itty bitty strings.Â Â Â Â Â

Elvis

1 Like

A small notice on the state Department of Transportation's Facebook page said, "At least it's raining."

Imagine if this happened on a hot sunny day! You would smell it all the way to Spokane.

dkcswc

there is some kind of accident everyday, the driver of this truck is the first to say he is grateful that no one else was involved... he is a safe driver and no one knows or can assume to know what happened if we were not there to see it....

T_BONE_WALKER

Â @dkcswc "he is a safe driver and no one knows or can assume to know what happened if we were not there to see it.."

Yeah, we see how safe he is....I am sure the State Patrol wont have any problem figuring out what happened here without seeing it happen.

Ask your friend if he could do it all over again, what would he do different the second time. That should tell you what we were able to figure out by looking at the picture.

dkcswc

1 Like

Â @T_BONE_WALKER once again , what do you have against truck drivers trying earn an honest living? and who are you to pass judgement against someone you don't know and call names very immature...then why don't you leave it to STATE PATROL!!! THE DRIVER IS THE FIRST TO SAY THANK GOD NO ONE ELSE WAS INVOLVED... THINGS HAPPEN EVERY DAY THAT SHOULDN'T...IT DON'T MAKE THAT PERSON BAD OR A RAT AS YOU PUT IT...

T_BONE_WALKER

Â @dkcswc "ARE YOU GOING TO BLAME LOG TRUCK DRIVERS FOR WHAT THEY DO TO EARN A LIVING ALSO"

The story here is about fish guts and rolled trucks, why do you have difficultyÂ focusing on the issue and throw Log Trucks in this? This is what I call confusing the issue. It occurs when people have no real argument so they fabricate what ifs as questions. When that wont work for them (and it never does) they start yelling what they have already said as if yelling somehow validates what they were wrong about before (This never works either). Lets get back to the story now, K?

No, I didn't see where a log truck rolled over and spilled fish guts from excessive speed on a corner, nor did I see any Log Trucks involved in the most recent string of carnage in western washington. Log Trucks by nature are not an "entry" level category of trucking. You see, up in the hills the guys would only kill their selves with this foolishness and not many log truck owners are in a hurry to lose trucks that way. Typically, log drivers are well seasoned before they ever get into a log truck and then they learn the log hauling trade.

Aside from most union drivers, I'd rather be around a logger then any other truck out there because it aint their first rodeo like some guy that gets hired 4 weeks out of the year to haul fish guts as fast as he can so maybe he can impress his boss at everyone else's expense and get on steady.

In fact, I'd go as far as to say driving in a group of owner driven log trucks would likely be the safest place on any highway in this state, union or not.

T_BONE_WALKER

Â @dkcswcÂ Figures, still cant answer the questions with or without his CAPS on and then blames someone else for confusing the issue, lol are you a non union truck driver? The blame game leads me to believe you are a Rat also.

I know what caused it: Too fast for conditions. Cut and dried. I am sure the Troopers also know what caused it and I'll bet if that driver doesnt have the ticket in his wallet, its coming in the mail. Drug test results will likely take a few days though so I have no comment there, yet.

Union or non union? Dont ask me, ask the families of the dead children if it matters if the drivers are union or not. The last 2 weeks of rat induced carnage were all avoidable accidents and yes, avoidable accidents do happen every day. Thats the problem, Rats happen.

Rat drivers driving negligently do NOT have as much right to the road as other drivers. They dont belong in a truck, on a road, anywhere at anytime. They can go make their living somewhere else not endangering the public.

dkcswc

Â @T_BONE_WALKER WHO'S TRYING TO CONFUSE THE ISSUE, YOU WEREN'T THERE TO SEE IT. YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT CAUSED IT AS DOES NO ONE ELSE... WHO CARES IF HE IS UNION OR NOT , HE HAS A RIGHT TO EARN A LIVING AS MUCH AS THE NEXT PERSON...HE ALSO HAS A FAMILY TO TAKE OF. THE TRUCKERS HAVE AS MUCH RIGHT TO THE ROAD AS THE NEXT PERSON. AND HE WOULD NOT WANT TO DO IT AGAIN.IT IOS A TRUCKERS FAULT THAT THEY ARE THE ONLY TO HAUL THING NOW ,ARE YOU GOING TO BLAME LOG TRUCK DRIVERS FOR WHAT THEY DO TO EARN A LIVING ALSO. ONCE AGAIN THE DRIVER IS THE TO BE GRATEFUL THAT NO ONE WAS HURT.

T_BONE_WALKER

Â @dkcswc Here was the question I posed to you:

Ask your friend if he could do it all over again, what would he do different the second time. That should tell you what we were able to figure out by looking at the picture.

Try to answer that one question without attempting to confuse the issue here.

BTW Rat is a name for all non union drivers, not just him.

Honest livings are not made by negligent driving, people get killed from negligent driving.

Ma_Kettle

1 Like

Sushi, anyone?

Scarlett_Vixen

7 Like

For everyone's information the driver of the truck, a friend of mine, was doing the speed limit, was not drinking, or doing drugs. He came around the corner, the load shifted, and that was that. Â His load was secured as per the law. Â If you don't know what the details are, keep your speculations to yourself and don't assume anything.

Elvis

Â @Scarlett_Vixen Knowing what I have learned from this story, the legal requirements are not enough to cover this situation. The trailer he was hauling could be modified to correct the problem with baffles etc. I wouldn't want to continue taking the chance if the load shift was the actual cause, without doing SOMETHING to keep this from repeating. Secure your load!

T_BONE_WALKER

Â @ElvisÂ Â Concrete trucks dont have baffles and they are turning the drum picking up the weight of the concrete on one side. The modification they use is to let up on the throttle foot feed for corners. Been working reliably for 60 years that I know of.

NorthwestEconomist

1 Like

Â @Scarlett_Vixen hey smart guy, notice something on the road? is that WATER from RAIN? Guess what WA state law is, when "conditions get worse" the speed limit reduces. He broke the law, and charge him for the clean up.

Funky-Munky

2 Like

Â @Scarlett_Vixen It's not your pals fault, but I am going to blame the company 100%. Loose fish guts will always shift like liquid in a closed container..... Their method of hauling fish guts has to change. What do you think will happen when a loose load of guts goes around a corner? shifts like liquid duh.....

T_BONE_WALKER

4 Like

@Scarlett_Vixen

So yeah like I said, too fast for conditions. His top heavy truck was loaded with a load that was subject to shifting and when the truck turned, it shifted. And since he is running a commercial vehicle on this state's highways and byways that were paid for by tax payers, I think anyone that has an opinion should voice it.

What do you think concrete truck drivers or liquid tank haul drivers do, drive the speed limit around all corners and then blame the rolled over truck on a shifting load? What does your friend want to do for his next job? I am just glad he didnt kill a family.

dkcharneski

1 Like

How do you know the driver was speeding? were you with him? I have rode with the driver and known him for years, he is a safe driver...oh by the way he is also a tax payer...are you jealous you sound like you have a personal vendetta against truck drivers... he still has his job...

T_BONE_WALKER

1 Like

Â @dkcharneski Whos said he was speeding. I said he was going to fast for conditions as evidenced by the truck laying on it's side in the photo above.

Rb Lorton

2 Like

@T_BONE_WALKER @Scarlett_Vixen didnt notice a citation in the article...but that commercial vehicle will pay more taxes for one load then a private driver will pay in a year..Â Â that driver will pee in a jar...he will be detained for the rest of the day andÂ and scroutinized for every issue on his driving record. i better stop now since i read some of your latter posts on the issue...you must be a union driver...but DOT will come up with a citation..i am sure....and you are right....it is about "revenue"....screw saftey...

T_BONE_WALKER

Â @dkcswcÂ I know exactly what caused it. Too fast for conditions! cut and dried. Do you really believe a real driver risks a truck and the public around the next corner to avoid an animal? You can confuse this issue with animals and going to heaven and anything else your mind conjures up but the fact remains, he was going too fast for conditions.

If he had rounded that corner doing 25 mph, would the truck have rolled?Â How a bout 20MPH?

T_BONE_WALKER

Â @Rb LortonÂ ".but that commercial vehicle will pay more taxes for one load then a private driver will pay in a year.".

And one 105,500 lbs truck running down the road will put more wear on the roadway then 100 cars will in a year. Want to start talking about bridges and what 105,500 does to them at 65 MPH?

dkcswc

1 Like

dkcswc@T-BONE_WALKERÂ Â why would say such things about someone you do not even know and call them names, very immature...you should not assume things, when you don't know what caused the accident, it could been caused by something as simple as an animal in the road for all you know...you shouldn't pass judgement, I would worry about judgement day....

T_BONE_WALKER

Â @Rb LortonÂ You are right, you should stop now. The post accident activities he will go through are well established and should not come as a surprise to him or you, thats part of the job he signed up for. He brought this on himself, now he can stand up and accept responsibility for it.

I am not a union driver nor were any of the drivers involved in all these unnecessary accidents over the last few weeks in western washington. It seems like since that little girl got murdered by a non union driver (willful negligence) on I-90 last year, this stuff has happened week in and week out around here. These guys are job scared and are being pushed to hurry up til disaster strikes and then they think its someone else's fault because they were told to hurry.

In terms of taxes paid, those are fees to grant the use of the tax payer's hiways and byways that the trucking industry pays to operate on. In addition, the traffic back up and re-routing of commercial traffic after the I-90 crash easily cost industry more in lost revenue then 100 of those trucks will ever pay in taxes no matter how long the rats drive them.

Scroll down to "long beach's" post for an eye witness account of what these rats have been doing on the states highways and byways while hauling fish guts.

If you asked that rat "What one thing contributed to this crash more then anything else and what would you change if you could do it all over again"? His answer would certainly be "I should have went slower around the corner"... Hence, too fast for conditions, negligent driving, reckless driving.

I am glad this young man didn't have to live the rest of his life knowing that he was dumb enough to let someone "push" him into killing a family with a truck.

Tattooed_Angel

2 Like

Yeeewwwwwww!

Wolfen

1 Like

"And for our next immunity challenge on Survivor, our tribes have to gnaw their way through a semi truck load of foul, stinking fish remnants.........Survivors Ready?Â GO!"

lovestolearn

3 Like

My dad lives near here. This amuses me, even if it shouldn't. I can picture all the cats and seagulls fighting over the fish guts.

Glassman

1 Like

Would the WSP ticket him for "Failure to secure his load"?

T_BONE_WALKER

1 Like

Â @Glassman Probably speed: Too fast for conditions and every safety violation they can find on the truck and driver. They need the revenue. I just cant tell you how damned happy I am that no family or families got wiped out as a result of this nonsense.

T_BONE_WALKER

The deregulated, non-union trucking industry certainly does have its problems even after 30 years. Glad no innocents wound up as collateral damage from another rat, non-union, alleged truck driver that was in over his head way to deep. I wonder if the employer is satisfied with all the savings in wages and benefits he will have to pass onto consumers?

chandler

2 Like

Â @T_BONE_WALKER the trucking industry is almost "too" regulated. And the fact that most drivers are non-union is not pertinent. If you aren't familiar with the rules and regulations governing truckers, perhaps you'd like to check out the US Dept of Transportation site

http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/rules-regulations/truck/driver/truck-driver.htm

Truckers are some of the most regulated, rule-bound, under-appreciated workers out there. And liquid loads (in a container) can not be "secured" like a load of bricks because they are "liquid" and subject to the laws of gravity.

T_BONE_WALKER

Â @chandlerÂ The trucking industry was deregulated in the early '80s. The airline industry was also. Do you suppose the deregulation of airlines resulted in pilots not needing licenses or knowing federal aviation regulations? The industry was deregulated not, driver requirements. Nice try.

"And liquid loads (in a container) can not be "secured" like a load of bricks because they are "liquid" and subject to the laws of gravity".

Thanks for your opinion but why do you suppose you dont see concrete trucks or bulk liquid trucks laying on their sides like that truck at every intersection?

"Truckers are some of the most regulated, rule-bound, under-appreciated workers out there."

Yeah and the most likely to blow those rules and hence the picture above. Shall we get a pity party together for the poor driver of the truck pictured above? What about the homeowner with the mess in his yard. He really feels sorry for the poor driver huh? The public at large can see what these guys do on a daily basis and the continuing mayhem.

I am still happy he didnt kill a family but, has no business driving truck as I am sure his most recent employer will agree.

We can continue this conversation tomorrow when it all happens again somewhere else in the State. It will be the same story, just the names will be changed.

I Like Meat

4 Like

At least it didn't happen on I-5 underneath the convention center.

pbs7mm

Oops.

Well, the saying went when Judge Bolt Head said the Indians get 50% of the harvest was....

That is head, tails and guts.Â Half the fish.

Guess that was a crummy deal all around.

Just my say

From what I understand in Japan people that are inÂ prisonÂ only get serve fish heads and rice. Looks like we have a nice start to do that here.

LongBeachBum

1 Like

I live there and those truckers are hot dogging through there all the time. Finally one of those asphalt a*sholes screwed up enough to flip the damn thing. Glad I wasn't around and no body else was. He could have crushed someone with that stunt. I hope the SP give him a large ticket and sticks his insurance for cleanup. Seagulls should be happy though.

Funky-Munky

1 Like

Interesting this keeps happening... thinking wet roads, over the weight and some other kinds of things could've happened. Not exactly a stable load fish guts loose in a trailer.

RamblinGirl

1 Like

YUM!!!

curiousmind

1 Like

I can see it now....every land fill, beach front and roof top, and McDonald's are now free and clear of all the seagulls begging for scraps of food....but this small corner of the globe will be flapping with the wings of every carnivorous bird around...including the seagulls...and fighting with every skunk, cat, dog, or other four legged fish eaters...LOL, I'm staying clear of this place!