SEPTEMBER 5, 2008 – A Peterbilt dump truck loaded with asphalt ended up in Batiquitos Lagoon after it blew its left rear tire on Interstate 5 in northern San Diego County, California.  The Batiquitos Lagoon is a protected wetland between the cities of Carlsbad and Encinitas, and a nature reserve run by the Calfornia Department of Fish and Game.  It is one of just a few remaining tidal wetlands on the Southern California coastline.

The San Diego truck accident occurred at around 1 a.m. Friday morning on Northbound 5 just north of the La Costa Avenue exit. After the truck blew a tire, the driver struggled to regain control of the four axle truck which was travelling at about 55 m.p.h.  However, after slamming on the brakes, the driver lost control and the truck careened over the guardrail and came to rest on a narrow strip of land on the banks of the lagoon.  The 29 year old driver walked away from the accident and called for help.

The dump truck was travelling to the McClellan-Palomar airport.  Officials estimate that as much as 19 tons of asphalt and 60 gallons of diesel fuel ended up on the banks of the lagoon.  Fortunately, the majority of the pollutants were on the bank and did not end up in the lagoon or the ocean.  The main spill area was a protected nesting area for an endangered bird, the light-footed clapper rail (Rallus longirostris obsoletus). 

A scientist for the California Department of Fish and Game said the environmental damage will be insignificant.  The mail impact area was about a 30 feet by 75 feet area of land. The asphalt was in a semi-hard state when it hit the water, which was fortunate, and kept the damage from spreading. Cleanup efforts were interrupted by high tide about 1 p.m., and environmental crews were forced to wait until approximately 6 p.m.  on Friday evening to resume work.  The La Costa Avenue entrance ramp was closed on Friday and traffic was jammed for miles most of the day as hazardous materials officers, cleanup workers and scientists from the Department of Fish and Game worked to clean up the damage and minimize the environmental impact.