Chicken protein was the film coating the road
Motorists were clucking about several spillages of foul smelling waste on Old Highway 5 near Howard Simmons and Hwy. 382.
Ellijay Police Chief Edward Lacey said there were an estimated three reports of spills near Howard Simmons and one at the roundabout at Hwy. 382. The last two occurred on Mondays, July 7 and 21.
Vehicle owners were complaining about the odor and the slimy liquid mucking up their wheel wells.
“Originally, people thought it might be human waste,” Lacey said. “It proved to be incorrect.”
While other officers were pursuing the human angle, Officer Kaleb Hensley tracked another theory back to the Pilgrim’s Pride plant in Ellijay.
“It was just really good police work by Officer Hensley,” Lacey said.
Initially, because the spills were so distant from the plant, it was difficult to find the connection.
A trucking company contracted to haul chicken protein from the plant was eventually fingered as the culprit. It was verified using the city’s license plate camera system.
“On these particular days they had more moisture content than planned,” said Chief Lacey.
When the truck hauling the protein stopped and started, there was a sloshing effect which spilled liquid along with some solids. This created a sixteenth to quarter inch of film on the road.
Chief Lacey said the company would contact motorists who complained and have agreed they will not accept loads with excess moisture in the future.
“We’re doing extra patrols in the morning to follow-up, trust but verify,” said Chief Lacey.