OPP charge driver after transport spills oil believed to have coated ducks

TORONTO – Ontario Provincial Police say an Alberta man has been charged with careless driving after a transport rollover spilled thousands of litres of transformer oil into a Toronto creek.

It’s believed the oil ended up coating dozens of ducks that had to be rescued by wildlife volunteers.

Police say the transport rolled over Monday evening when the driver failed to properly get around a curve on a ramp at Highway 401 and Highway 427.

READ MORE: Operation underway to rescue, clean oil-covered ducks in Etobicoke

Three electrical transformers on the truck contained approximately 2,878 litres of oil each.

Police say at least two transformers spilled the oil onto the roadway and surrounding area.

Barry Kirkham, 54, from Sherwood Park, Alta., sustained minor injuries and was taken to hospital for assessment.

Workers with the Toronto Wildlife Centre rescued dozens of oil-covered ducks and set up two bathing stations to remove the oil.

Once the birds have been cleaned and deemed healthy, they’ll be released back into the wild.