Charges Recommended After Dorris Paraquat Spill
CHP asks Siskiyou County prosecutors to review March toxic spill that shut down Highway 97.
A CalTrans worker stands on US Highway 97 to close the roadway south of the Oregon border following the toxic spill, March 17, 2026 (Image, SCSO)
DORRIS, Calif. — The California Highway Patrol has recommended the Siskiyou County District Attorney consider criminal charges against Macy’s Flying Service following last month’s paraquat spill in Dorris, according to reporting by the Redding Record Searchlight.
The March 17 incident occurred when a tank containing concentrated paraquat reportedly came loose from a truck traveling through town and spilled onto Highway 97. Officials said the 140-gallon tank leaked about 50 gallons of herbicide onto the pavement and shoulder.
“At roughly 8 a.m., the devices securing the tank to the truck failed,” CHP Sgt. Shawn Gordon told the Searchlight. The tank then fell from the truck and began leaking the chemical.
Investigators recommended charges tied to hazardous material loading and securement, shipping paperwork, and required hazardous material markings on containers. It is now up to Siskiyou County District Attorney Kirk Andrus to determine whether to move forward with a case.
The truck, which reportedly had Oregon plates, was traveling from Tulelake to a spraying job in the Shasta Valley. The driver was identified in the report as Frank Heffren of Klamath Falls.
Because paraquat is considered highly toxic, county officials issued a shelter-in-place order for people in and around Dorris during the cleanup. Motorists who drove through the area were also advised to wash their vehicles.
Cal OES reported the company sent a trained cleanup crew to the scene. “They received specific training on how to deal with paraquat … so that’s why they were allowed to clean up,” Gordon said. “They used detergent, then a clay-based absorbent sometimes referred to as kitty litter.”
Officials later declared the area safe. “That night, at the end of the cleanup, that area was inspected by the safety officer. It was determined safe. The chemical was neutralized,” Gordon said.
Some people sought medical attention “out of an abundance of caution,” Gordon added, but no confirmed poisonings were reported among residents, motorists, or responders.
Macy’s Flying Service did not provide comment to the Searchlight for its report.
The spill also renewed calls from environmental groups to ban paraquat in the United States. According to the Searchlight, advocates argued the incident showed the risks of transporting and using a chemical that has already been banned in dozens of countries.
Paraquat remains legal for restricted agricultural use in California and Oregon, but may only be handled by licensed applicators. It has been banned in numerous other countries.
Images courtesy of Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office.
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