More than 100,000 live salmon were spilled after a tanker truck overturned in Oregon.

Officials said that about 77,000 of the live spring Chinook smolts – or young salmon – “hit the water running” as they fell into a nearby creek.

In a statement from the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW), officials said the 16m (53ft) vehicle rolled over on a sharp corner.

It skidded on its side on the pavement, and then went over a rocky embankment causing it to tip onto its roof.

The ODFW added that its driver was left with minor injuries, but said that the lost fish represented 20% of the total amount state hatcheries planned to release into the river this year.

“We are thankful the ODFW employee driving the truck was not seriously injured,” Andrew Gibbs, ODFW fish hatchery coordinator for Eastern Oregon, said.

“This should not impact our ability to collect future brood stock or maintain full production goals in the future.”

Alaska Airlines flight 1282: Plane whose door panel blew off mid-air ‘was due to be serviced that day’

First case of human plague in eight years recorded in US state

Three die from electrocution after live power line falls on car in Oregon ice storm

The government body added that the smolts were planned to be released to an already constructed pool at the Imnaha River.

Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News

Mr Gibbs told The New York Times they were meant to acclimate for a few days before making a 650-mile journey through the Snake and Columbia Rivers to the Pacific Ocean.

“They hitch a ride on the spring runoff, tail first, so there is less resistance,” he added. “That way, they can conserve energy until they get to the ocean.”

Related posts:

Black Lives Matter co-founder resigns amid criticism Former US President Bill Clinton leaves hospital after infection treatment Hunt for bear called ‘Hank the tank’ who has broken into dozens of homes Two killed by lightning outside White House Life on the road amid monster winter storm in New York Trump says investigations are ‘straight out of Stalinist Russia horror show’ in first campaign rally State of emergency declared in Mississippi after deadly US tornado Hunt for missing sub turns critical with oxygen supply due to run out just after midday Trial date set for Donald Trump in classified documents case Woman with rare double uterus pregnant in both Trump asks Supreme Court to delay election interference case Jake Paul v Mike Tyson: Everything you need to know about the fight