Two trucks split in half along Highway 54 in Wisconsin Rapids and Interstate 39 near Mosinee, spilling thousands of pounds of cranberries.
It's certainly something you don't see every day, or every year for that matter. Police say accidents like these are not common. They typically only happen two or three times a year.
"It's truly a rare occurrence and from the mess standpoint, I'm really glad it is," Kronenwetter Police Chief Daniel Joling told NewsChannel 7. He and the rest of the Kronenwetter Police Department were in charge of Tuesdays spill along I-39.
Why, if spills like these are so uncommon, have we seen two in our area in a week? The Wisconsin State Patrol says that during harvest time weight restrictions are relaxed, allowing truckers to haul more raw agricultural products than usual.
"This is the time of year when, especially the cranberry industries, are moving their berries off the bogs and moving them to processing," Chief Joling explained.
Between the two incidence, only one citation was issued. That citation was issued to trucking company involved in the spill along Highway 54, Plainfield Trucking, for load spillage. Otherwise, police say both drivers were following the law.
"I have every reason to believe the driver was a very seasoned gentleman. He had mentioned he had done his pre-trip inspections and the trailer checked out, which, there is no doubt in my mind, was the case," Chief Joling said in reference to the driver of the truck that split along I-39.
Chief Joling adds that in life you can't anticipate everything. That's why it's up to drivers to be vigilant.
"You want to be aware as you're passing big trucks. If you see something that looks unsafe, you see a strap that has possibly come loose, a load that looks like it's shifting or not riding right...back off," Chief Joling advises.
Chief Joling says the most important thing truck drivers and everyday drivers can do to stay safe is make sure to do routine maintenance on their vehicle.
