Manilla, Iowa – Officials with the Crawford County Emergency Management Agency, today (Monday, March 23rd) said that at approximately 2:00 P.M. on Saturday, March 21st, 2026, a semi-tanker hauling around 6,000 gallons of manure experienced a structural failure while traveling near the intersection of 330th Street and S Avenue. The tanker buckled, releasing manure onto the roadway, the adjacent shoulders, and an adjacent field. The driver noticed the problem immediately, stopped, and got assistance.
A Crawford County Sheriff’s Deputy was the first to arrive on the scene and immediately requested that Manilla Fire and Ambulance, along with Crawford County Emergency Management be contacted regarding this spill. Crawford County Emergency Management also contacted the Crawford County Hazardous Materials (HazMat) Technicians to assist with containment and cleanup operations. Precision Towing and Crawford County Secondary Roads were also contacted to aid in operations.
Once on scene, responders worked with the owner to stop the release, contain the affected area, and prevent manure from spreading any further. Manure entered the shoulders and an adjacent field. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) was notified of the incident and provided cleanup guidance and oversight to the response team. Manure entered the North and South shoulders, the roadway, as well as an adjacent field.
Responders confirmed that no creeks, streams, or other waterways were affected by the spill. Cleanup activities focused on recovering as much of the manure as possible, excavating the impacted soil in the affected field, and managing all contaminated material in accordance with DNR recommendations.
Traffic in the immediate area of 330th Street and S Avenue was temporarily impacted during the cleanup, but normal travel has since resumed.
Crawford County Emergency Management extends their appreciation to the HazMat Technicians, Manilla Fire and Ambulance, the Crawford County Sheriff’s Office, Precision Towing, Crawford County Secondary Roads, Crawford County Communications Center, and the Iowa DNR for their assistance in this incident.
