Saturday, January 31, 2015

TANKER TRUCK DRIVER FELL ASLEEP AT WHEEL CAUSING THE TANKER TO FLIP ON ITS SIDE IN SHILOH, ILLINOIS












TANKER TRUCK DRIVER FELL ASLEEP AT WHEEL CAUSING THE TANKER TO FLIP ON ITS SIDE IN SHILOH, ILLINOIS



January 30, 2015


SHILOH — The driver of a tanker truck that overturned on Interstate 64 in Shiloh early Friday fell asleep at the wheel, according to state police.


Illinois State Police Trooper Calvin Dye Jr. said Friday afternoon that the driver, Jason Kammerer of Stanberry, Mo., was driving east on I-64 near mile marker 16 in Shiloh in the semi tractor-trailer hauling gasoline shortly before 2 a.m. when the truck drove into the median. The truck then turned over onto its left side and skidded into the westbound lanes. 


Kammerer was found laying face down in the road and soaked with gasoline. He was transported by ambulance to a hospital, where he was treated for minor injuries and released.


Crews from Environmental Restoration, the Illinois Department of Transportation and the trucking company that owns the rig worked to transfer the fuel to a different tanker and clean up the spill.


Dye said Kammerer was cited for improper lane usage and failure to wear a seat belt. Dye also said an ISP certified truck inspector cited Kammerer for a motor carrier violation but a report did not specify the citation.


Traffic from I-64 was diverted to U.S. 50 at Illinois 158 for several hours. Motorists were also urged to exit at Illinois 4 near Lebanon. All lanes had reopened by mid-morning Friday.


Several houses are located near the interstate in the area of the accident but authorities insisted the spill posed no immediate danger to the public.