JEFFERSON – The Iowa Department of Natural Resources responded to a diesel fuel spill Tuesday morning after a semi hauling Pepsi products hit a bridge about five miles southwest of Jefferson.
The driver was injured and an estimated 200 gallons of diesel fuel and other fluids were dumped into Greenbrier Creek when the truck struck the bridge about 9:30 a.m.
According to the Iowa State Patrol, Bradley Edward Ruhnke, 34, of Carroll was driving a Pepsi delivery truck westbound on County Road E57 when he lost control of the truck as he was crossing Greenbrier Creek just west of K Ave.
Ruhnke crossed the center line and struck the corner of the bridge. The vehicle rolled and came to rest, hanging over the edge of the bridge with the trailer in the creek.
Ruhnke was transported to Greene County Medical Center by Greene County EMS. He was later taken to a Des Moines hospital.
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources was called because diesel fuel from the truck spilled into the creek beneath the bridge. Emergency responders placed absorbent booms into the creek to catch and absorb the petroleum products.
The DNR reported shortly before 4 p.m. that the spill was contained. The DNR is monitoring the clean-up as the Pepsi company and contractors work to remove the diesel fuel. The DNR may consider enforcement action, a press release stated.
The Greene County sheriff’s office and the Jefferson fire department also assisted at the scene.
