Truck Carrying Dirt From Oil Spill Overturns

By Gordon HopkinsFJN has learned that a truck that overturned in Gage County, spilling its contents on the side of the road, was carrying oil-contaminated dirt from the Keystone Pipeline oil leak.At approximately 10:09 a.m. on Tuesday, April 18, 2023, Gage County Deputies were dispatched to the scene of a reported single vehicle non-injury accident. According to the sheriff's office, “Ryan Ratute, 23 years old from Papillion, Nebraska was driving a Western Star semi pulling a side-dump trailer full of dirt.”The sheriff's office reported that the driver was attempting to turn north onto Highway 112 from eastbound Highway 8. As Ratute made his turn the load shifted, causing the trailer to roll onto its side along with the semi. Highway 112 was shut down for several minutes during the investigation.Per the sheriff's office, “Ryan did not report any injuries and was wearing his seatbelt.”TC Energy, the company that owns and operates the Keystone Pipeline, told FJN, “On Tuesday morning, a contractor truck hauling solidified sediment from the Milepost 14 site turned over. Safety of personnel and the community is our leading priority. No life-threatening injuries were sustained, and we are supporting the driver and our contractor partner.“Environmental specialists and clean-up contractors responded to the scene where the load was contained and recovered. Regulators and the county were immediately notified. The cleanup has been completed, with no impact to the area. We are working with our contractors to implement enhanced safety measures to support the safe transportation of the soil.”According to County Supervisor Don Schuller, neither he nor Highway Superintendent Mark Kuhnke knew about the trucks, “I was not aware the trucks were traveling through Gage County.”

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