Saturday, May 23, 2015

1 MAN KILLED, 1 INJURED IN FIERY SEMI-TRAILER TRUCK ACCIDENT ON I-80 IN IOWA CITY WHEN IT CRASHED INTO A BRIDGE SUPPORT AND BURST INTO FLAMES












MAY 22, 2015

IOWA CITY, IOWA

One man died after the semi-trailer truck he was in collided Friday with the supports of the Dubuque Street bridge on Interstate 80 in Iowa City.

According to a crash report from the Iowa State Patrol, a semi-trailer truck carrying steel was westbound on I-80 near exit 244 at about 8:15 a.m. when it crashed into a bridge support and burst into flames.

Gary A. Griffey, 39, of Lafayette, Ind., a passenger in the semi-trailer truck, died from his injuries. Griffey was not wearing a seat belt, according to the report.

The driver of the semi-trailer truck, Shawn C. Freeman, 24, of Plattsmouth, Neb., was injured in the accident, according to the report, but not critically. Freeman was wearing a seat belt. Both men were transported to University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics by ambulance, where Griffey later died.

Iowa State Patrol Lt. Randy Jones said Friday afternoon that the semi-trailer truck drove through a guard rail and into the bridge's supports and became engulfed in flames. Witnesses at the scene said they heard explosions after the accident, Coralville Fire Chief Dave Stannard said.

Smoke from the burning semi-trailer truck could be seen from miles away until fire crews from Iowa City and Coralville extinguished the flames just after 8:30 a.m.

The accident shut down Dubuque Street over the bridge and all lanes of Interstate 80.

The Dubuque Street bridge was closed for about two hours due to concerns about the bridge's structural integrity after the semi-trailer truck hit it. Iowa City Manager Tom Markus said officials with the Iowa Department of Transportation checked the bridge and deemed it safe for vehicles about 9:50 a.m.

Eastbound and westbound lanes of I-80 around the 244 exit were closed after the accident, with traffic being diverted onto Dubuque Street. Eastbound I-80 was reopened at about 8:40 a.m., with westbound lanes reopening just after noon.
Source: http://www.press-citizen.com