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.