New York Highway Gets Chocolate Coating

Geneseo, NY -- A tractor trailer carrying 45,000 pounds of liquid chocolate separated and overturned on I-390 North in Livingston County around 5:00 p.m. Thursday. There were no serious injuries, but the accident created a river of chocolate that stopped traffic for over six hours.

New York State troopers said Bert Nestlerode of Ephrata, PA-- the driver of the rig from the Mars candy company--swerved to avoid a deer and lost control of the vehicle.

The trailer separated and careened over the guardrail onto the G&W railroad tracks of the Hampton Corners salt mine. The cab continued on I-390 and came to rest near the Mt. Morris exit.

The load of liquid chocolate spilled, coating the highway and tracks. The trucks tires resembled giant chocolate-covered donuts.

Officers and emergency workers on the scene said they had never seen anything like it. However, due to the low temperatures, the chocolate soon solidified, making cleanup a bit more manageable

Nestlerode was treated and released for injuries at Strong Memorial Hospital.

The six-hour cleanup interrupted both car and train traffic.