Chaos unfolded on the streets of Santa Rosa last month when hundreds of gallons of hazardous liquid waste were spilled in various locations, causing significant disruptions and a considerable cleanup operation. Santa Rosa Police Department (SRPD) responded to the scene on September 28 after receiving numerous 911 calls about the incidents. Investigators quickly determined that the spills were caused by containers falling from a silver-colored horse trailer towed by a red Chevrolet truck.
Environmental hazards took a literal form as several large totes carrying hazardous liquids tumbled onto roadways, according to the Facebook post from the Santa Rosa Police Department. Roads were closed for about four hours as crews from Santa Rosa Fire Department (SRFD), California Highway Patrol (CHP), Santa Rosa Transportation and Public Works (SRTPW), and CalTrans worked to clean up the mess. The liquids, a cocktail of diesel fuel, waste oil, gasoline, and other auto repair-related fluids, were sprawled across six locations.
Lester Sturm, a 78-year-old Oregon resident, was identified as the driver responsible for the spill. It has been reported through witness accounts and security camera footage that the containers fell from Sturm's trailer, which bore Oregon license plates. Upon being contacted, Sturm cooperated, returning to Santa Rosa to meet with SRPD investigators on Tuesday. While the details of their conversation are not public, official statements clarified that the spills were due to negligence, not malicious intent.
As a consequence of his actions, Sturm faces legal repercussions, having been issued an arrest citation for felony dumping a hazardous substance and felony false labeling of a hazardous material. He is slated to return to California for future court proceedings connected to these charges.
