SALMON CREEK, Wash. — A dump truck and trailer full of treated human waste has overturned on Interstate 5, north of the Interstate 205 junction in Salmon Creek, Washington, according to the Washington State Police Department (WSPD). It happened just before 8:40 a.m., south of the Fairgrounds exit.
The overturned dump truck is causing blocked lanes in both directions and traffic delays for miles. One lane of southbound I-5 is open, WSPD said. Crews are blocking the inner northbound lane. At one point, traffic was backed up 7 miles to exit 14 in Ridgefield.
Troopers were responding to a pedestrian who was walking in one of the southbound lanes of I-5, according to WSPD Trooper Will Finn. He said that caused traffic to slow down, and the driver of the dump truck was unable to safely stop quickly. The dump truck rolled onto the barrier and into the northbound lanes, spilling its cargo onto the road. Finn said the dump truck was filled with treated human waste from a plant in Cowlitz County.
"When you talk about the product that's there, people would think that it's hazardous, but it's completely treated and it's sanitary," Finn said. "It's just a mess."
Finn had previously said in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, that witnesses reported a pick-up truck had cut the dump truck off.
He added that police don't know why the pedestrian was in the road, but that they were taken to a hospital. The driver of the dump truck was taken to the hospital for minor injuries.
Finn said police and crews will stay on I-5 for a few more hours.
Clark County Fire District 6 advised drivers traveling south on I-5 to take th Fairgrounds exit, turn right heading west and then take a left on Delfel Road.
"You'll pass the mess and get back on the freeway at 138th. Going to be a couple hours to clean up this mess," Clark County Fire District 6 said in a post on Facebook.
Drivers can check the Washington State Department of Transportation's map for the latest on road closures.
Photos: Dump truck overturns, spills 'treated human waste' onto I-5
This is a developing story and it will be updated when more information becomes available.
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