Semi overturns on highway north of Seward, spilling salmon

A semi traveling on the Seward Highway overturned north of Seward, spilling diesel fuel, oil and its cargo of salmon and closing the road for several hours overnight into Saturday, Alaska State Troopers said.

Seward-based troopers were dispatched to Mile 15 of the highway, south of Primrose, shortly after 9 p.m. Friday for a report of the crash, troopers said in an online post. A semi with two trailers had overturned, “spilling diesel fuel and oil across the highway,” troopers said.

“At the time of the rollover, the truck was fully loaded with containers of salmon, which vastly covered the highway,” troopers said. Photos of the incident posted to social media showed salmon strewn across the road.

Two semi occupants were taken to Seward Providence Medical Center for evaluation and treatment of what appeared to be minor injuries, troopers said.

Troopers said a preliminary investigation indicated that the semi “was traveling too fast for conditions, and intoxication was not a factor.”

The crash and resulting cleanup closed the highway until about 4:45 a.m. Saturday, troopers said.

The closure occurred in the hours leading up to Saturday’s Mount Marathon race and Fourth of July celebration in Seward, which draw massive crowds to the Resurrection Bay town each year.