An Alberta man has been charged in connection with an oil spill that leaked into Toronto's Mimico Creek on Monday.
Police say Barry Kirkham, 54, from Sherwood Park, Alta., has been charged with careless driving after a truck crashed at Highway 401 and Highway 427 on Monday night. The truck was carrying three electrical transformers that contained nearly 2,900 litres of oil each. The oil is believed to have made its way into the west-end creek and covered dozens of ducks.
According to the Toronto Wildlife Centre, 90 ducks covered in the slick substance had to be rescued after oil leaked into the west-end waterway. The group says the birds will be bathed a number of times in order to completely wash off the oil.
"We start with a flash bathing to get them stable and to get the worst of the oil washed off," the wildlife centre said on its website. "But over the next few days, each duck will need multiple baths to completely clean the substance form their feathers and to ensure that they’re good and waterproof before going back to the wild."
On Monday, a transport truck travelling on the southbound Highway 427 ramp to the westbound Highway 401 rolled over. Police say the oil from at least two transformers spilled onto the roadway and the surrounding area. I'’s believed the oil also leaked into the west-end creek.
City officials have since installed a boom to contain the spill in a section of the creek. Officials from Ontario's Ministry of Environment also attended the scene on Tuesday.
Police said Kirkham suffered minor injuries as a result from the crash. He was taken to hospital from assessment.
Meanwhile, rescue efforts at Mimico Creek continue. The Toronto Wildlife Centre says dozens of more ducks are expected to be rescued.
The agency is accepting donations to help with the care of the birds.
