Driver cited for leaky load as five tons of contaminated soil spilled in Parke County

ROCKVILLE -- Indiana State Police troopers and Parke County agencies responded south of Rockville Wednesday morning on the report of a dump truck leaking contaminated soil onto the roadway.

Preliminary investigation revealed a 2005 Mack dump truck owned by MZ Transport of Greenwood, and driven by Timothy Parke, 48, of Jamestown, was northbound on Catlin Road from CR 400 South about 11:25 a.m.

A witness following the dump truck noticed the rear dump gate was ajar and the truck was losing soil all over the roadway along Catlin Road near County Road 200 South.

The citizen was able to gain the attention of the driver who stopped the truck near CR 200 South and then called the Parke County Sheriff's Office.

Moments later, Parke County Sheriff's Deputy Shay Vandivier and ISP Trooper Michael Organ arrived and determined the lost cargo was crude oil-contaminated soil from a clean-up site near Catlin Road and CR 400 South

The officers closed the roadway and summoned ISP Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Trooper Brent Hoover to the scene for an inspection of the vehicle.

During the inspection, driver Timothy Parke was cited for a leaky load and issued warnings for miscellaneous other infractions. He was then ordered placed out of service.

Officers were able to determine approximately five tons of the soil had been lost over a nearly two-mile stretch of Catlin Road. A hazardous material crew was sent to the scene for clean-up. The road was expected to be closed about three hours.

No information was available concerning where the load originated. State Police believe the site may belong to Marathon Oil Co. The trucking company was apparently an independent contractor for the site clean-up effort.