Crews load salmon back into fish totes after a tuck rollover on Egan Drive on July 25th, 2016. (Photo by Mikko Wilson/KTOO)
An assembly line of workers collected piles of chum salmon that spilled onto Egan Drive near Highland Avenue after a truck tipped over about 3:30 Monday afternoon. The incident took place near Juneau-Douglas High School and the Breakwater Hotel.
“So when the vehicle rolled over onto its side, it lost its load and the fish were spilled over the intersection. The inbound lanes of Egan Drive were completely blocked,” Juneau Police Lieutenant David Campbell said.
Traffic backed up for several hours while police diverted vehicles. Drivers were asked to avoid the area if they could. Outbound lanes were shut down to just one lane of traffic while a tow truck was called to the scene to remove the overturned vehicle.
Egan Drive was fully reopened by 7 p.m. Capital City Fire and Rescue hosed down the highway to remove the slime.
Chuck Bill, CEO of Bartlett Regional Hospital confirmed that the truck driver was evaluated and then released.
Police and witnesses estimated the weight as between 10,000 and 16,000 pounds. Several people at the scene said the spilled salmon were considered contaminated and unfit for human consumption.
Note: This report has been updated with additional information. A new report is posted here.
16,000lbs of salmon spill from a rolled truck on Egan Drive on July 25th, 2016. (Photo by Mikko Wilson / KTOO)
A Juneau Police Department cruiser closes the inbound lanes of Egan Drive after a truck rollover on July 25th, 2016. (Photo by Mikko Wilson / KTOO)
Crews clear fish from Egan Drive on Monday, July 25, 2016. (Photo by Lakeidra Chavis / KTOO)
Crews load salmon back into fish totes after a tuck rollover on Egan Drive on July 25th, 2016. (Photo by Mikko Wilson / KTOO)
Crews clear fish from Egan Drive on Monday, July 25, 2016. (Photo by Lakeidra Chavis / KTOO)
16,000lbs of salmon spill from a rolled truck on Egan Drive on July 25th, 2016. (Photo by Mikko Wilson / KTOO)
16,000lbs of salmon spill from a rolled truck on Egan Drive on Monday, July 25, 2016. (Photo by Lakeidra Chavis / KTOO)
Crews load salmon back into fish totes after a tuck rollover on Egan Drive on July 25th, 2016. (Photo by Mikko Wilson / KTOO)
Crews load salmon back into fish totes after a tuck rollover on Egan Drive on July 25th, 2016. (Photo by Mikko Wilson / KTOO)
Crews clear fish from Egan Drive on Monday, July 25, 2016. (Photo by Lakeidra Chavis / KTOO)
2 tow trucks work to upright an overturned flatbed truck on Egan Drive on July 25th, 2016. (Photo by Mikko Wilson / KTOO)
Traffic backed up on Egan Drive and Glacier Highway as JPD directed traffic, 1 lane at a time, around a rolled truck on Egan Drive on July 25th, 2016. (Photo by Mikko Wilson / KTOO)
Capital City Fire/Rescue personal assist in placement of absorbent pads to clean engine oil from Egan Drive following a truck rollover on July 25th, 2016. (Photo by Mikko Wilson / KTOO)
Firefighter Krista Telnes and Captain Todd Cameron of Capital City Fire/Rescue wash salmon slime from Egan Drive after a truck rollover on July 25th, 2016. (Photo by Mikko Wilson / KTOO)
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