News release from the Coos Co. Sheriff’s Office. On November 11, 2014 at about 12:16 am the Coos County Sheriff’s Office dispatch center received a call regarding a semi truck crash on Sitkum Lane near milepost 22 east of Myrtle Point. The semi truck was hauling asphalt for a paving project being conducted by Knife River. The semi truck, operated by Ronald Carte, 65 years old of Portland was a private contractor working for Knife River. According to Knife River employee, the company is paving Sitkum Lane between mileposts 17 and 24 for the Coos County Road Department. The employee told the Sheriff’s Office the semi truck was towing a large belly dump trailer loaded with asphalt and was one of the last ones for the evening when it slipped off the roadway. According to the driver, a front wheel on the semi tractor went off the narrow road and the truck was pulled off of Sitkum Lane. The truck is reported to have completely rolled over, coming to rest on its tires, but dumping the load of asphalt onto the river bank and into the river. This branch of the Coquille River, the East Fork, has the contaminants in it, but in what concentration is unknown. Oregon Emergency Management was notified of the spill into the waterway. Mr. Carte received a laceration to his forehead and was transported to Coquille Valley Hospital in Coquille by private vehicle. Mast Brothers towing was contacted to respond to the scene; and they sent two heavy duty wreckers from Coos Bay and Florence. This was an extremely difficult recovery for Mast Brothers towing due to the narrow road, steep embankments, and a telephone pole which blocked the ideal area for removal. The recovery took until nearly 10:30 am to complete, but the truck and trailer were successfully removed from the river and the telephone pole was ultimately spared.
