Semi overturns on I-70, spilling steel coils into ditch

Wednesday, March 28, 2012
A Tuesday morning tractor-trailer accident on eastbound Interstate 70 dumped a pair of steel coils (left) into the ditch area, but left the driver with only minor injuries. Traffic was slowed for three hours because of the one-vehicle crash.

LITTLE POINT -- A Tuesday morning accident left a tractor-trailer overturned and 23 tons of steel in an Interstate 70 ditch.

Shortly before 11:30 a.m., Rodney L. Yates, 46, of Henderson, Ky., was eastbound on I-70 in a 2007 Freightliner tractor. He was pulling a flatbed loaded with two steel coils weighing approximately 47,000 pounds.

Traffic was slowing in the construction zone near the 49-mile marker, and Yates reportedly failed to slow properly. To avoid slowing traffic, he veered to the right, where the semi left the road and overturned onto the passenger side.

The coils dislodged and rolled into the ditch area on the road's south side.

No other vehicles were involved in the accident.

Yates complained of shoulder pain, but refused medical treatment. He was not cited.

The load originated in Russellville, Ky., and was en route to Monticello. The trucking company was Schilli Leasing of Remington.

Eastbound Interstate 70 traffic was slowed in the area for approximately three hours for crash cleanup. Westbound traffic remained open during the crash investigation and cleanup.

ISP Master Trooper Gary Thalls investigated the crash. Assisting were ISP 1st Sgt. Jeff Hearon and ISP Sgt. Joe Watts, INDOT and Curtis Wrecker Service.

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