Toxic chemical seeps into river from semi crash - WKOW 27: Madison, WI Breaking News, Weather and Sports

Toxic chemical seeps into river from semi crash

Posted:
By Amber Noggle - email
Courtesy: WQOW Courtesy: WQOW

MENOMONIE (WKOW) -- It's been three days since a semi crashed into the Red Cedar River in Menomonie, killing two people and wildlife officials are still cleaning up.

The accident off I-94 sent debris, diesel fuel and fertilizer into the river.

The Department of Natural Resources is having trouble getting to the water.

What's worse, is that the fertilizer contains an herbicide that's toxic to aquatic life.

"As we became aware of the existence of this herbicide, that's changed the urgency of the cleanup because the herbicide is acutely toxic to aquatic life. It's in thirty pound bags, and there are thousands of these bags," says Ed Culhane with DNR.

The DNR says it will start using a boat over the weekend to cleanup the river.

It's not sure how long it will take.

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