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Semi-truck full of apples plunges into Columbia River, floating toward Priest Rapids Dam

A semi-truck full of apples plunged into the Columbia River, Monday afternoon. The truck’s refrigerated trailer full of apples detached and is currently floating toward the the Priest Rapids Dam. (Trooper Brian Moore)
A semi-truck full of apples plunged into the Columbia River, Monday afternoon. The truck’s refrigerated trailer full of apples detached and is currently floating toward the the Priest Rapids Dam. (Trooper Brian Moore)
By Eli Francovich elif@spokesman.com(509) 459-5508

A semi-truck hauling apples plunged into the Columbia River, Monday afternoon. The refrigerated trailer detached and is currently floating toward the the Priest Rapids Dam.

The driver of the truck was taken to a nearby hospital. His injuries, although serious, do not appear to be life-threatening, according to Washington State Patrol spokesman Trooper Brian Moore.

The truck was traveling too fast for road conditions and lost control on an S-curve, Moore said. The Grant County Public Utilities District has launched two boats to try and pull the trailer to shore before it strikes the dam. As of 6 p.m. the trailer was still in the river, the WSP said.

“The Washington State Patrol are urging drivers to slow down and drive for conditions,” Moore said. “We’ve experienced way too many collisions that could have been avoided by simply slowing down.”