Overturned tuna truck blocks busy Oregon Coast highway

Valuable cargo was bound for Seattle, then to Japan

Highway 99W at Highway 18 re-opened late Thursday afternoon after an over 6 hour closure caused by an overturned commercial truck and trailer. The driver was not injured, according to Oregon State Police.

By John Branton
Columbian Staff Reporter

Originally published November 3, 2011 at 11:03 p.m., updated November 3, 2011 at 9:39 p.m.

What do you do when your refrigerator truck loaded with 45,000 pounds of valuable tuna rolls onto its side?

You call in heavy equipment that can lift the tractor and trailer back onto their wheels — and keep the trailer's refrigerator system running so the tuna stays fresh.

No one wants 22½ tons of spoiled fish.

The accident happened about 10 a.m. Thursday as trucker Mark A. Siroshton was rolling east on Highway 18, a very busy route between the Oregon coast and Interstate 5.

The 22-ton cold load of tuna in the trailer was bound for Seattle, and then to Japan, said Lt. Gregg Hastings with the Oregon State Police.

Siroshton, 44, of Vancouver was making the turn onto Highway 99W northbound near McMinnville when the rig rolled onto its side, blocking the highway, according to an OSP bulletin.

Siroshton was using a seat belt and was not reported injured, the bulletin said. He was driving for Aladdin Transportation, based in Portland.

It took about six hours for workers to reopen the highway, the bulletin said. Workers were assisted by officials with the Yamhill County Sheriff’s Office, McMinnville and Dayton fire departments and the Oregon Department of Transportation.

The bulletin did not say what caused the rollover. OSP is investigating.

The Columbian was unable to reach the trucking company to learn what the cargo is worth.

John Branton: 360-735-4513 or john.branton@columbian.com.