Tanker Truck Spill Near McKenzie Bridge Affects Waterway
May 15, 2026, 7:34 p.m. PT – A tanker truck crashed near Belknap Hot Springs, spilling 275 gallons of diesel and over 5,000 gallons of milk into the McKenzie River, according to the Eugene Water and Electric Board (EWEB).
Authorities reported that early intervention by the Upper McKenzie Rural Fire Protection District and other agencies prevented impacts to Eugene’s drinking water. Response teams deployed containment booms in the creek and river, capturing visible milk in the Trail Bridge Reservoir.
EWEB officials are currently assessing the total volume of materials released into the waterway. The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is monitoring potential effects on local fish populations.
“We have many mitigation measures in place, and it would take a significant amount of time before any materials would travel all the way down the river to EWEB’s Hayden Bridge Drinking Water Treatment Plant,” said Susan Fricke, EWEB Water Resources and Quality Assurance Supervisor. “We appreciate our partners’ quick response to get mitigation measures deployed.”
A spill response drill conducted by EWEB and other agencies last fall prepared teams for addressing similar incidents.
Contact: Haleigh Kochanski, breaking news and public safety reporter for The Register-Guard, HKochanski@gannett.com.