On a recent morning in March, while dew was still on the road, there occurred the salmon smolt mishap of Northeast Oregon.
It was about 10:30 a.m., early enough for there to be dew on the road.
After navigating a sharp corner, the 53-foot tanker, which was carrying about 102,000 fish, rolled onto its passenger side, skidded, went down a rocky embankment and flipped onto its roof.
Tens of thousands of live fish were hurled out of the truck and swept into the Lookingglass Creek or onto its banks.
The young salmon, or smolts, lucky enough to drop into the creek are expected to persevere in their migration from the Grande Ronde River to the ocean.
Organizations:
The Oregon Department of Fish, Wildlife
Locations:
Northeast Oregon, Elgin , Ore, skidded, Grande