Springfield, OR : Truck crash spills 11,000 Chinook salmon smolts on the road near Springfield on Tuesday, December 30, 2014

A truck driver hauling a tanker filled with 11,000 Chinook salmon smolts crashed near Springfield, killing all the fish.

Police said Ray Lewis, 45, of Umpqua, was negotiating a curve in an Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife delivery tanker on Highway 126E in Cedar Flat when the truck went off the road and crashed into a power pole.

It happened at 2:50 p.m. Tuesday.

The truck overturned, spilling water and thousands of salmon smolts onto the road. All of the fish died as a result of the crash, according to Oregon State Police.

The fish were being transferred to the Row River near Cottage Grove from McKenzie Hatchery due to floodgate malfunctions at Leaburg Dam, which provides water to the hatchery.

Lewis suffered cuts to his face and head and was also treated at the hospital for other unknown injuries, according to police.

An Oregon State Police report states, "alcohol is being investigated as a contributing factor in this incident and additional investigation is pending."

Police are being assisted in the investigation by the Lane County District Attorney's Office.

OSP was assisted at the scene by ODFW, the Oregon Department of Transportation and McKenzie Fire and Rescue.

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Truck crash spills 11,000 Chinook salmon smolts on the road