Diesel enters Willow Creek near Mapleton after crash, spill

MONONA COUNTY, Iowa (KCAU) — Diesel fuel spilled into a northwest Iowa tributary before then reaching a creek.

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) said the incident happened near the intersection of Highway 141 and Plum Avenue on Sunday. The pickup driver allegedly lost control of the vehicle and ran off the road into Pumpkin Run. Pumpkin Run is a small tributary northwest of Mapleton that flows east into Willow Creek.

The pickup was carrying a 50-gallon drum of red diesel. As a result of the crash, the drum of diesel and a small amount of oil was then emptied into Pumpkin Run. The red diesel then flowed downstream, reaching Willow Creek.

Officials placed booms in Pumpkin Run and further downstream in Willow Creek south of the intersection of 120th Street and Highway 141. DNR officials didn’t see any diesel further down stream in Simmons Creak. They also didn’t smell any diesel there.

No one was injured and and no dead fish have been observed.

The driver of the pickup is working with the DNR and Monona County Sheriff’s Office to clean up the spill.

Authorities are continuing to investigate the incident.

The DNR is reminding everyone to report any releases after hours by calling the DNR’s emergency spill line at 515-725-8694. The DNR can identify causes and clean spills if reported quickly.

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