Two people, including a police officer, were taken to hospital yesterday, after an effluent spill which closed a section of State Highway 1, north of Balclutha, for about 90 minutes.
The constable and a Transit New Zealand worker were taken by ambulance to the Balclutha Health Centre as a precaution after they noticed a tingling sensation in their mouths and noses.
They had been at the scene of the spill for about 10 to 15 minutes, Sergeant Martin Bull said.
They were discharged after about 30 minutes, at which time the Transit worker returned to the scene to help with the clean-up.
A 6km stretch of highway, between Hillend Rd and Lakeside Rd was closed after an S. J. Allen Balclutha transport truck travelling from Stirling to Chrystalls beach leaked a mixture of animal waste product and superphosphate on to the road about 10.30am, Sgt Bull said.
"We had a few units there.
"The smell wasn't that great, and a few people got a bit of a tingly mouth. It was pretty acrid," he said.
Transit NZ state highways Otago and Southland manager Niclas Johansson said the clean-up was assisted by the rain.
"If it had been a dry, dusty day, things would have been a lot worse."
Traffic was diverted until the road was cleared.
Sgt Bull said it was not yet known if charges would be laid.
S. J. Allen Balclutha owner-operator Lindsay Soper declined to comment when contacted by the Otago Daily Times yesterday.
