Crop Duster Sprays Boats on River
Emergency management officials took samples from a Mississippi River tugboat and pleasure craft after a low-flying crop duster sprayed the boats with an unknown substance.
Environmental Protection Agency officials were trying to determine what was sprayed.
A crop duster flying north passed over the tugboat near Rosedale, Miss., about 3 p.m. Friday, said Kent Buckley, director of the Bolivar County Emergency Management Agency.
Officials think the spraying was “just a scare,” said Matthew Tomek, a county EMA spokesman.
Buckley said officials suspect the substance was sodium chlorate, used to defoliate cotton crops. Buckley said sodium chlorate is similar to salt water and not dangerous.
The investigation was turned over to federal investigators.
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