A tractor-trailer rollover sent a truckload of squid spilling onto a roadway in Narragansett, Rhode Island, leading local authorities to dub the incident the “Squidpocalypse of ’26.”
The fully-loaded trailer was en route to a processing facility when the trailer dislodged and tipped on its side while the driver was navigating a turn, according to the Narragansett Police Department. A substantial portion of the squid cargo spilled onto the street on a warm, sunny Sunday.
Police responded to the scene at 9:27 a.m. and the intersection was not reopened until 5:15 p.m., authorities said. The spilled squid sat in the sun for hours, creating a strong and unpleasant odor. Narragansett resident and fisherman Richard Stevens described the smell as “very foul smelling, especially if it lands on the road and stays there for awhile.”
Heavy equipment and a dump truck were utilized to clear the road of the squid. The driver and a passenger in the truck cab were not injured, and no other vehicles were involved in the incident. The Rhode Island State Police Commercial Enforcement Unit is investigating the incident, and it remains unclear if any enforcement action will be taken.
The Narragansett Police Department humorously acknowledged the event on social media, stating the town was "still recovering" from the spill that "put ‘slippery when wet’ to shame.”