By Jason Wesseldyk
Sports Editor
A large amount of animal waste and remnants spilled onto Starr Road near Plainwell High School on Thursday, April 13, with cleanup efforts taking three hours.
According to a release from Plainwell Department of Public Safety director Kevin Callahan, the report of a hazardous-material spill came in at 7:11 p.m. Once on scene, however, officers “quickly determined that the spilled product was organic in nature and not a hazardous material.”
The investigation into the incident determined that the semi-truck driver who was hauling the material was traveling westbound on Starr Road. The driver came to a hard stop at the stoplight in front of Plainwell High School, causing a “large amount” of the material to spill onto the road.
Authorities estimate the material covered a 325-by-25-foot area, which equates to 8,125 square feet.
Employees from Plainwell Public Works and the trucking company for which the semi driver worked aided officers from Plainwell Public Safety in the cleanup, which wrapped up at approximately 10 p.m.
During the cleanup, the affected portion of Starr Road was down to one lane.
The Allegan County Emergency Management and the Allegan County Sheriff’s Department also assisted on the call.
The driver of the truck was cited for having an unsecured load.