240 closed for 6 hours after wreck
GREENCASTLE -- A two-vehicle accident left Veteran's Memorial Highway closed for about six hours Wednesday as authorities cleaned up the wreckage.
Donald Lundy, 43, of Beaver, Ohio was eastbound on Veteran's Memorial (State Road 240) in a 2010 International semi, when he collided with the 2000 Toyota Rav 4 driven by Rachelle Overbay, 19, of Roachdale.
Lundy advised he did not notice Overbay's vehicle until it was in front of him and it was too late to avoid the collision. Overbay only advised she was southbound on Percy Julian when her vehicle collided with the semi.
The collision carried both vehicles into the ditch on the south side of 240, where the tractor trailer came to rest on its side. Overbay's vehicle came to rest under the tail end of the trailer facing south.
Putnam County Dispatch took the call at 8:15 a.m., and the Greencastle Police Department, Greencastle Fire Department and Operation Life were soon on the scene.
Both drivers were alert enough to give statements to the investigating officer and were transported to Putnam County Hospital. PCH confirmed both were treated and released.
With the drivers out of the vehicles, the job at hand was the removal of the cargo from the trailer, which was en route to Walmart Distribution. Workers from Walmart, with the help of GPD and GFD began removing the items from the overturned trailer and placing them in another.
Additionally, GFD Chief Bill Newgent reported the semi was leaking oil and antifreeze, while the passenger vehicle was leaking gasoline. Goode Excavating and Emergency Response was dispatched to help with spill cleanup.
"What they do is remove some of the soil off, and then they pile it up on plastic. Then they'll come back and truck that stuff away," Newgent said.
Newgent said they had also put down absorbent booms and pads to soak up the oil, antifreeze and gas that got into the water.
"They dug holes to catch those chemicals in, and then they created and underflow dam. Oil floats on water, so it allows the water to flow underneath and catches the oil on top," he said. "They built a small one of those, and then they put booms and pads and things like that in the water to soak up any residual."
Curtis Towing from Little Point was also on scene to remove the semi.
Crews from the Indiana Highway Dept. and the Greencastle Street Dept. had barricades up and directed traffic to other routes.
Other responding agencies included the Putnam County Sheriff's Department, Indiana State Police, Putnam County Emergency Management and Walmart safety officials.
The damage estimate is over $50,000.