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Authorities are seeking clues to an accident that left petroleum products at a Paddy Creek water crossing in northwest Texas County the evening of Aug. 6.
The Roby Fire Department said information on a white truck with a black car trailer hauling well casings and blue auger bits and a white tractor-trailer with a black trailer hauling more bits and a blue drilling rig are sought.
The drilling rig was backed off the trailer on the crossing and it fell on the east side of the creek.
The department said a substantial amount of petroleum products leaked out of the equipment or was washed off the equipment into the stream.
The Roby Fire Department went to work to collect the fuel. A Missouri Department of Natural Resources Environment Emergency Response Team arrived the next day to take over the cleaning. Absorbent “noodles” and “pads” were placed in the water to help with the process.
The U.S. Forest Service assisted by placing signs downtown stream to inform the public of the issue and where it was safe to be in the creek.
Anyone with information can contact: Alex Hilke, Alex.hilke@dnr.mo.gov, or Trent Packer, Roby assistant chief.