Friday, April 3, 2015

FIERY SEMI-TRUCK CRASH ONTO A POST OF A BRIDGE OVERPASS IN DAVENPORT, IOWA







APRIL 1, 2015

Cleanup continued on Interstate 80 at Jersey Ridge Road, the day after a tractor-trailer crashed into the overpass there in Davenport, Iowa. Eastbound lanes of Interstate 80 were blocked after the semi hit the overpass just after 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 31, 2015.

The crash closed eastbound lanes of I-80 between I-74 and Brady Street for several hours, and Jersey Ridge road was also closed from Memorial Parkway north to the Davenport city limits. One lane was reopened on eastbound I-80 by about 7 p.m., and all lanes reopened later that same night.

“The driver of the semi turned off the roadway and hit the Jersey Ridge overpass trying to avoid hitting other vehicles,” said Iowa State Patrol Trooper Dan Loussaert.

The 54-year-old semi driver, from East Peoria, Illinois, was operating for Bull Lathrom & Sons Trucking of Washington, Illinois, when he drove the rig into a guardrail and bridge post, causing an estimated $15,000 damage according to the crash report filed by police.  The tractor burst into flames and was, essentially, destroyed.

A Honda Odyssey van was also hit in the rear passenger-side corner, causing an estimated $2,000 in damage, the report said.

Cleanup of the crash scene was underway as of late Wednesday morning, April 1, Trooper Loussaert said, and traffic was slow going past the activity on eastbound I-80.  No injuries were reported, and Loussaert attributed that to seat belt use and to the driver being able to escape the semi before the fire got out of control.

Cleanup was expected to continue into the evening hours Wednesday.