Apple truck spills load at Hanford Yakima Barricade

A semitruck hauling apples Saturday morning lost its load and tripped up some motorcyclists when it overturned at the Hanford Yakima Barricade at highways 24 and 240.

The cause of the wreck has not been released.

James Martinez of Yakima County wrote to the Herald that he was one of the motorcyclists.

Martinez said the big rig was headed south a little after 10 a.m. to turn down Highway 24. He and five other riders were approaching the big rig as it slid at them on its left side.

Martinez said he pulled over to the shoulder, but he didn’t do it soon enough.

“The truck slid into me, burying me with apple bins and apples,” Martinez said.

Martinez said another rider hit the truck but didn’t take too much damage.

A third rider left the road, where he crashed into more apples and apple bins.

Martinez didn’t commet on the other riders he was with. He said his motorcycle was the most damaged, but only superficially.

There were some minor injuries, but Martinez said everyone was able to ride back to Yakima County.

“We were very lucky,” Martinez said, “and if we had been closer to the intersection, we all may have been crushed or dead.”

This story was originally published October 29, 2017 at 11:58 AM with the headline "Apple truck spills load at Hanford Yakima Barricade."