It was a sticky mess Thursday afternoon when two trucks collided east of Hillsboro on U.S. 56.

Wes McGuire, 41, of Sioux Falls, N.D., was driving a 1995 International truck, owned by Robert McGuire, of Herington, westbound when he collided with the rear of a 2007 Kenworth semitrailer truck driven by Martin Robinson, 45, of Ottawa, and owned by New Life, of Dallas. McGuire was attempting to make a left turn onto Santa Fe Street, north of Hillsboro Industrial Park. The impact of the collision caused a tank on McGuire’s vehicle to split, spilling molasses onto the highway.

Hillsboro firefighters sprayed the acrid, sticky substance off the highway before traffic was allowed through the accident scene.

It appeared that the brakes on McGuire’s vehicle failed, causing the collision, Marion County Deputy Sheriff Michael Ottensmeier said.