A train derailment in Montana caused a massive spill of beer into the Clark Fork River on Wednesday, attracting dozens of thirsty anglers who took advantage of the unexpected bounty.
According to local authorities, the train was carrying about 3,500 cases of beer when it went off the tracks near Alberton, about 30 miles west of Missoula. The cause of the accident is still under investigation, but no injuries were reported.
The beer, which was mostly Coors Light and Blue Moon, spilled out of the damaged containers and floated down the river. Some of the cans were crushed or punctured, while others remained intact.
A group of anglers who were fishing nearby witnessed the scene and decided to take their boat out to collect some of the free booze. They managed to fill up several coolers with beer cans before the authorities arrived and warned them to stop.
“It was like Christmas in April,” one of the anglers, who wished to remain anonymous, told The Montana Standard. “We couldn’t believe our eyes. There was beer everywhere. We just grabbed as much as we could.”
The angler said he and his friends planned to share their haul with their neighbors and friends. He also said they did not notice any adverse effects on the fish or the water quality from the beer spill.
However, officials from the Montana Department of Environmental Quality said they were monitoring the situation and advised people to avoid drinking or fishing from the river until further notice.
They also said they were working with the railroad company and a contractor to clean up the mess and remove any remaining beer cans from the river.
“We are taking this incident very seriously and we are doing everything we can to minimize the environmental impact and ensure public safety,” a spokesperson for the department said in a statement.
