The U.S. Forest Service announced Monday, Dec. 23, that it was re-opening Quartzville Road following the cleanup and removal of the wreckage of a semi truck that overturned last week and rolled down a steep embankment near Milepost 32.
Hazardous materials from the overturned truck and trailer on Quartzville Road were successfully removed last week. The USFS originally said the road would be closed until May 1.
The truck, driven by Cotis Woods, 59, of Texas, was carrying solid pesticides for commercial sale when Woods lost control on a hairpin turn shortly after 8 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 14 near milepost 32 on FSR 11 near Minniece Creek, which is a tributary of Quartzville Creek. According to the Sheriff’s Office, Woods was not seriously injured.
The truck rolled down a steep embankment, with the vehicle landing on its roof above the creek.
The driver had been directed to take Quartzville Road by a Google map app, said Erin Zysett, of the state Office of Emergency Management.
The truck was carrying 42,000 pounds of Ortho Bug-Geta Snail & Slug Killer2.
Officials said initially that there was a “small initial release” of the pesticide material spilled in the accident, but on Thursday the USFS reported that the pesticide remained intact on the trailer until it was removed Thursday morning, after five days of work to stabilize the truck on the embankment and drain it of diesel fuel to avoid water contamination.
Zysett said that the cleanup operation was a multi-agency effort.
“This was not a chemical spill,” she said. “This is a salvage operation. No chemicals were released into the environment.”
She said a small amount of diesel fuel also spilled, but also was immediately cleaned up and remaining fuel and fuel tanks have been drained.
The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ ), the Department of the State Fire Marshal (OSFM), and Regional HazMat Team 5 will demobilize and transfer site management to local authorities and Willamette National Forest staff to complete the salvage operation, the USFS said Thursday.
The Forest Service expressed appreciation for help with the “complicated response” to: Linn and Benton county emergency managers, the Linn County Sheriff’s Office, Benton County Sheriff’s Office, the Oregon State Fire Marshal, the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, the Oregon Department of Emergency Management, and OSFM’s Regional HazMat Team 5 (Albany, Corvallis, and Lebanon Fire personnel).
The forest closure order closes FSR 11 between milepost 26 and milepost 34.
Travelers are advised to follow road closures and vehicle-length restrictions, especially in winter. Visitors are encouraged to “Know Before You Go” and exercise caution in hazardous weather and on roadways in remote locations. Turn around if roads appear impassable, hazardous conditions warrant, or if your vehicle is not equipped for safe winter driving. Visit TripCheck.com for road conditions and webcams.
Zysett said travelers should remember that Google Maps is good for navigating in areas that are familiar, but not necessarily in unfamiliar or remote places.
“Any time you’re rerouting, we encourage people to check TripCheck.com. ODOT is always checking the road conditions. TripCheck is going to give you the safest and best route.”
For current conditions on Quartzville Road, contact the Sweet Home Ranger District at (541) 367-5168 or view the closure order and other alerts at https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/willamette/alerts-notices.
