Thousands of gallons of human waste spilled into a creek on Thursday afternoon after a tanker truck fell through a bridge in Indianapolis, Indiana.
According to the Indy Star, the septic truck was leaving a resident’s property on 76th street and Westfield Blvd., when it fell through a small wooden bridge over Holly Creek. The fall broke a valve on the tanker and sent between 2 and 3 thousand gallons of sewage into the creek below.
Authorities are unsure if the age of the small residential bridge, or the weight of the truck, was the primary factor for the collapse.
First responders quickly set up a dam to prevent any human waste from flowing farther downstream and called in another truck to vacuum up what waste they could.
Pam Thevenow, the head of water quality and hazardous materials management at the Marion County Public Health Department, says that 3,000 gallons of mixed water and sewage were retrieved from the creek and that the remaining sewage should not pose any health concerns.
“Of course, some of that sewage would be diluted in the water,” Thevenow said, “but they made sure there was no visible residue or solids left.”
Authorities later removed the dam and allowed the remaining human waste to flow downstream.
The Marion County Public Health Department has taken several water samples to assure the quality of the water. The results will take 24-48 hours. The health department has also posted signs nearby to inform residents of the spill.
Attempts at contacting the septic company contractor have not been successful. Thankfully, no one was injured in the incident.