Driver uninjured in Waterworks Hill semi crash

Saturday, December 17, 2016
Courtesy photo

U.S. 231 was closed just north of Greencastle for several hours Saturday following a horrific-looking semi crash that fortunately left no one injured.

The 2014 Freightliner was southbound on U.S. 231 down Waterworks Hill at 8:51 a.m. when it lost control on the slick road.

The tractor crossed the northbound lane and collided with the guardrail on the east side of the road, plunging the tractor over the east side of the Big Walnut Creek bridge. It ended up hanging from the trailer over the edge just north of the creek.

Courtesy Putnam County Sheriff's Department

The trailer was left badly mangled, twisted over the side of the bridge.

Registered to Venture Logistics LLC, the truck was pulling a TransCorr box trailer.

Putnam County sheriff's Deputy Matt Biggs reported that the driver, 61-year-old Randy Taulman of Goodland, was uninjured in the crash.

Courtesy Putnam County Sheriff's Department

Taulman, however, was issued a citation for driving too fast for conditions.

The road was closed until approximately 3 p.m. as crews from Curtis Wrecker Service and Porter's Towing and Recovery worked to retrieve the tractor and trailer.

Also responding to the wreck were additional PCSD deputies, Operation Life, Greencastle Fire Department, INDOT and the Greencastle Police Department.

McDonald's and Starbucks brought food and drinks to the responders as they stood out in the cold, wet weather.

The road conditions were compounded by a wintry mix dumped on Central Indiana late Friday night and early Saturday that lasted longer than originally projected by meteorologists, with temperatures barely climbing above freezing on Saturday. Misguided earlier predictions had temperatures primed to climb to near 50 degrees on Saturday.

Meanwhile, over the 24-hour period of time starting at 10 p.m. on Friday through 10 p.m. Saturday, the Indiana State Police reported responding to:

-- 442 property-damage accidents.

-- 77 personal injury accidents.

-- Two separate fatal crashes, both in Marion County, with one death at each accident scene.

-- 206 slide-off mishaps.

-- 258 calls to assist motorists.

Over the course of the same 24-hour period seven ISP police vehicles were also struck. Fortunately, no troopers were injured in any of the accidents.

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  • And please pay attention to the guy directing traffic at the top of the hill. There have been numerous people drive around him because, apparently, the detour doesn't apply to them. They get turned around at the bottom of the hill anyway and end up taking the detour they should have taken in the first place. You may be more important than everyone else but when the road is closed, the road is closed. Get over yourself and stop endangering the emergency personnel on scene!

    -- Posted by Geologist on Sat, Dec 17, 2016, at 11:25 AM
  • Well said, VFF! I would imagine you see more than your fair share of stupidity and selfishness on the roadways.

    -- Posted by Emmes on Tue, Dec 20, 2016, at 11:36 AM
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