Wis. Semi Crash Where 2 Minn. Men Died Spilled Chemical

Divers are still working to remove chemicals that spilled into a Menomonie river this month in a fatal semitrailer truck crash.

Two Minnesota men drowned after their semi skidded off the highway in a snowstorm. The semi was carrying 12 tons of fertilizer, and the entire cargo ended up in the Red Cedar River.

An Eau Claire Leader-Telegram report said the fertilizer contains an herbicide for killing crabgrass.

About 200 of the nearly 600 fertilizer bags were recovered by Thursday. However, a Department of Natural Resources spokesman says much of the herbicide is trapped under ice, and some will be inaccessible until the ice melts.

No dead fish have been reported.

The semi crashed into the river March 5. It plunged through 2 feet of ice into 25 feet of water.

Photo courtesy of Wisconsin State Patrol.

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