Drivers on Seven Devils Road outside Bandon got a very coastal kind of traffic hazard on Thursday, when a stretch of pavement was suddenly covered in fish after a load spilled and turned the roadway into a slick mess. Deputies’ photos show fish scattered across Walker Lane as county crews and law enforcement hustled to clear things up, while motorists were urged to steer clear and slow down around the scene.
According to KOIN, Coos County officials responded to the spill near Walker Lane on Seven Devils Road, where a deputy “cleared the road to the best of his ability.” The outlet reports the pavement stayed “extremely slick” after the initial cleanup and that officials used the incident as a reminder for drivers to secure their loads when transporting items.
Deputies Wading Through Fish To Keep Traffic Moving
Photos credited to the Coos County Sheriff's Office show fish strewn across the roadway while deputies directed traffic and helped county crews work through the pile. The sheriff's office shared the images with local media to highlight how hazardous the road had become and to show the cleanup effort in progress.
County Officials: Slow Down And Secure Your Load
County officials told KOIN that motorists should “drive carefully and secure your load” when hauling wet cargo, and should ease off the gas in areas where debris may still be on the road. The advice is meant to prevent a repeat performance and to protect cleanup crews who are working to get the road fully reopened.
Fishy Hazards Are Nothing New On The Coast
While a truck or trailer spill appears to be the immediate cause here, coastal communities sometimes deal with unusual marine debris and sudden wash-ups after storms or fishing activity, which can turn into complicated cleanups for local crews. Past reports of odd fish wash-ups along the Oregon coast have shown how quickly conditions can create messy, time-consuming hazards for small towns. Similar occurrences were reported by The Associated Press in 2023.
