Truck still stuck at bottom of hill near Kendrick

A dump truck and trailer loaded with multiple pieces of equipment has been stuck near the bottom of an embankment since Monday, and it reportedly leaked diesel fuel into a stream above Kendrick.

George Chavis, 64, of Hamlet, N.C., reportedly was driving the rig and hauling a skid loader, asphalt paving equipment and a small steamroller on State Highway 99 when he lost control, overcorrected and hit a guardrail before rolling off the ridge. Chavis was ejected from the truck and died at the scene.

Idaho State Police Sgt. Chris Middleton said Wednesday the dump truck has a 90-gallon diesel fuel tank that ruptured and spilled its contents into a creek at the bottom of the embankment. Middleton said officers have been unable to contact the truck’s owners, so it’s unknown how much diesel ended up in the creek. The leak was stopped Tuesday evening, but crews have been unable to remove the truck and equipment.

Kendrick City Clerk Lucinda Hites said it does not appear the diesel spill made its way into Kendrick’s water supply, and the city is not under any water restrictions.

Middleton said the truck is located about 100 yards down from the roadway on a 1 percent to 3 percent grade surrounded by trees, making extraction difficult. He said since the truck’s owners can’t be located, it falls to ISP to pay for a wrecker capable of pulling up the truck and other equipment.

“There’s just not enough personnel or funding to get it out of there,” Middleton said. “The local tow company was looking at a five-figure amount for the job, and they don’t want to just be out five figures, which I understand; they’re a business.”

Middleton said he elevated the incident to a level 2 hazmat situation because of the fuel spillage, opening up the possibility of requesting federal funding to pay for a wrecker. Middleton said the Environmental Protection Agency has been contacted, but funding has yet to be secured.

The Idaho Department of Environmental Quality investigated the incident.

Holm may be contacted at tholm@lmtribune.com or at (208) 848-2275. Follow him on Twitter @TomHolm4.