Oakland Highway Incident Linked to Company’s Pattern of Hazardous Spills
A Texas-based animal rendering company, known for its history of accidentally spilling animal carcasses, blood, and meat parts on U.S. roadways, was identified as the culprit behind the recent spill of raw poultry parts on Interstate 880 in Oakland. The company, Darling Ingredients, operates a plant in San Francisco where waste animal byproducts are transformed into pet food, fertilizer, and fuel. The spill resulted in traffic congestion and multiple accidents, prompting an ongoing investigation by the California Highway Patrol.
The truck driver, employed by Darling Ingredients, neglected to stop and wait for authorities after the spill, a violation of state law. The company has initiated an internal investigation into the incident and is cooperating with law enforcement agencies. However, specific inquiries regarding the company’s safety record and policies remain unanswered by Darling Ingredients.
As authorities delve into the spill in Oakland, NBC Bay Area’s Investigative Unit unearthed a pattern of similar incidents involving Darling Ingredients across various locations in the United States and Canada. One such town, Clinton, NC, has been plagued by multiple spills of blood, hog parts, feces, and animal heads by trucks affiliated with Darling Ingredients. The city’s police chief, Anthony Davis, expressed dismay over the recurring spills, costing the city thousands of dollars in cleanup and leaving a lingering foul odor.
Davis highlighted the hazardous practice of transporting animal byproducts in open-top trailers, susceptible to spills when the trucks maneuver sharply or brake suddenly. He emphasized the need for Darling Ingredients to enhance its hauling procedures to prevent future spills, citing the company’s track record of violations issued by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration for truck overfilling and load securement failures.
Furthermore, Davis disclosed that drivers for Darling Ingredients in Clinton have frequently fled the scene of spills, prompting local lawmakers to pass legislation criminalizing such behavior. Despite the enforcement of the new law, Davis noted that Darling Ingredients drivers have already faced criminal charges, underscoring the urgency for the company to prioritize safe transportation practices. Queries regarding Darling Ingredients’ spills in North Carolina and the legal consequences faced by its drivers were met with silence from the company.
