POLICE: Miles of red dye left on Oregon interstates because trucker’s company told him to keep driving 

A semi truck left miles of red dye along Oregon interstates on Saturday due to leaky cargo. 

The incident happened on December 17th from Happy Valley to Troutdale through Portland. 

According to The Oregonian, 40-year-old trucker Junior Jean stopped to check on the leaky cargo after being flagged down by other truckers. When he called his company to report the situation, he says they told him to keep driving to his destination in Troutdale, so he did. 

Police responded to reports of the leaking tractor trailer near Northwest Marine Drive and Eastwind Drive around 7:30 p.m. after the truck had already driven north on Interstate 205 from Southeast Sunnyside Road, then took Interstate 84 east and exited at Northeast Marine Drive.

The leaking truck left miles of water soluble red dye used for coloring mulch on roadways in the area. The sheriff’s office is advising motorists who drove on stained roads between 6 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. to check their cars for stains. They say the dye should wash off, but if it doesn’t, vehicle owners can contact the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office at webmaster@msco.us and provide their full name, phone number, vehicle make and model and a picture of the damage.

Jean was cited for operating a vehicle with a leaking load, third-degree criminal mischief and reckless driving.