GRANT COUNTY, WA - While us in California are singing the praises of our recent west coast storms, it seems that for others, the wet weather may be more trouble than its worth. Earlier this week, a semi truck carrying a load of fresh apples fell victim to the newly slick roadways, ending up crashed into the Columbia River along State Route 243 in Grant County.

According to an article by local news source KHQ, bystanders told the Washington State Patrol troopers on the scene that speed was likely a major factor in the cause of the accident. As described in the source, “the driver was going too fast for the conditions when he lost control of his rig while driving through S curves,” eventually hitting a guardrail and rolling towards the river. Witnesses also confirmed the roads prior to the crash were snowy and icy. 

”Slow down and drive for the weather condition,” urged Washington State Patrol Public Information Officer Trooper Brian Moore. "These types of collisions are preventable.”

Thankfully, driver and cab remained on shore, but the apples were not so lucky, floating off toward Washington’s Priest Rapids Dam. The trailer was later recovered by troopers and the Grant County Public Utilities District, who launched two boats to pull the drifting apples to shore. As a result, the collision caused a closure of SR243’s northbound lanes.

The apple truck’s driver did unfortunately suffer injuries, the source reports, but they are not considered to be life threatening. For more on both the unfortunate and fortunate effects of this influx of wet weather on the produce industry, keep up with AndNowUKnow.