Truck dumps load of smelly potato waste

CALDWELL, Idaho – A truck carrying potato waste accidentally dumped a large portion of its stinky load near a busy intersection just south of this southwestern Idaho city, requiring motorists to drive cautiously through the slick material.

The truck slammed on its brakes suddenly when morning fog obscured a traffic light Wednesday, sending hundreds of gallons of waste over the cab and onto the intersection at Karcher Road and 10th Avenue.

In some areas, the waste – peelings and so forth – was up to 8 inches deep and had to be cleared by a road grader that bladed the goop onto the shoulder.

“It’s going to be slippery for a while, and really, really stinky,” said Brad Carico of the Caldwell Fire Department. “We didn’t have any accidents, but cars were sliding around. Both lanes were covered. One lady had her window down and … the (woman’s) car just got filled with it.”