Semi brakes down, breaks down downtown

Tuesday, August 1, 2017
A semi, driven by Randy Landers of Ste. Genevieve, Mo., sits stalled in the intersection of Washington and Jackson streets in downtown Greencastle Tuesday afternoon after a broken brake cable came loose and became wrapped around the vehicle’s drive shaft. Two officers from GPD controlled the intersection with traffic-control equipment for nearly two hours until the vehicle was towed.
Banner Graphic/NICK WILSON

Southbound traffic was diverted for nearly two hours Tuesday afternoon due to a stalled semi trailer at the intersection of Washington and Jackson streets.

The semi, traveling southbound on U.S. 231, attempted to turn east onto Washington Street when its brakes locked, stopping the semi in its tracks halfway through the intersection.

Randy Landers, of Ste. Genevieve, Mo., said a broken brake cable was to blame.

GPD Officer Darrel Bunten (from left), a Curtis Garage and Wrecker Services worker, GPD Officer Josh Smith and semi driver Randy Landers study the situation Tuesday with the stalled semi.
Banner Graphic/NICK WILSON

“There’s a cable that attaches the brake lines up and, what I think happened, is the cable broke,” Landers said. “It just dropped it down and then it wrapped around the drive shaft, and so whenever that happened it yanked everything.”

Happening shortly after noon, the scene was quickly controlled by Greencastle Police Department (GPD) officers Darrel Bunten and Josh Smith, who Landers praised for a speedy arrival.

“I want to say it happened around 12:30, but they were immediately out here and that really worked for me,” he added.

Officers Bunten and Smith utilized traffic-control equipment leading up to the intersection for southbound vehicles on Jackson Street, noting that little interaction was needed after that.

“Basically, what we’ve done is let the traffic light do its thing,” Bunten said, noting that northbound traffic was largely unaffected. “We set up some triangles and, obviously when they see a triangle the motorist knows not to go there, but we’ve had a couple of (them) pull up to the triangle and say, ‘Hey, what do I do now?’ So I’ve had to go over there and have a conversation with them and get them straightened out.

“But, for the most part, we let the triangles do what they’re supposed to do, and they seem to be doing it pretty well,” Bunten continued. “Hopefully we can get these brakes unlocked and get him out of here.”

No injuries or collisions were reported as the vehicle simply stalled in the intersection. However, the semi was unable to be driven away from the scene and was towed by Curtis Garage and Wrecker Services out of Little Point.

The scene was clear by 2:19 p.m. and traffic resumed to flow freely.

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