A semi-truck accident has led to an emergency closure of Quartzville Road in the Willamette National Forest, Oregon. The incident occurred on December 14, 2024, when the truck carrying pesticides overturned.
What happened: The truck was rerouted by a GPS app onto Forest Service Road 11, where it veered off at a sharp turn near Minniece Creek. The driver was not injured.
- The truck was loaded with 42,000 pounds of slug pesticide. Fortunately, no spill occurred.
- Only a minor diesel spill was reported and quickly cleaned up.
- The road will remain closed between mileposts 26 and 34 until May 1, 2025, as crews work to remove the truck.
The response: Emergency officials are coordinating efforts to stabilize and remove the semi-truck, ensuring no further environmental impact occurs. Erin Zysett, from the Office of Emergency Management, confirmed cleanup is ongoing.
Why it matters: A closure of this kind affects access to the forest area, but it ensures public safety during the recovery operation. The road conditions and sharp turns on Quartzville Road are unsuitable for large vehicles and should be navigated with caution, reported Sweet Home News.
Thankfully, no one was injured in the incident, and cleanup efforts are underway to secure the area.