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Fatigued driving appears to be cause of semi rollover accident on I-70
CLOVERDALE -- A one-vehicle semi rollover accident Thursday afternoon on Interstate 70 in western Putnam County is being blamed on a fatigued driver, Indiana State Police at Putnamville reported.
It was the first of two semi rollover accidents occurring Thursday in Putnam County.
Preliminary investigation has revealed semi driver William R. Jones, 59, of Jonesboro, Ind., was operating a tractor-trailer eastbound near the 37.5-mile marker of I-70, three miles west of Cloverdale, when he lost control of the vehicle about 1:45 p.m. Thursday.
The semi then traveled north across the interstate median, through the westbound lanes, and eventually rolled over after striking trees on the north side of I-70.
Information gathered at the scene led investigators to believe Jones may have fallen asleep causing the crash, State Police reported.
Jones was transported to Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis for treatment of chest and internal pain, all of which were believed to be non-life threatening.
The tractor-trailer from Carter Express was hauling dry goods, police said.
The crash was investigated by ISP Master Trooper DuJuan Pressley-McFadden. Assisting were multiple troopers from the Putnamville Post, along with personnel from Putnam County Operation Life, Cloverdale Fire/Rescue and Curtis Wrecker Service.
The second semi rollover crash was reported about 9 p.m. Thursday, just east of the 45-mile marker in the westbound lanes of the interstate, four miles east of Cloverdale.
A westbound semi, reportedly fully loaded with 27,000 pounds of air freight, rolled over in the median.
The accident resulted in brief closure of the westbound lanes, although one lane was reported open by 9:30 p.m.
No further details on the second accident were available at presstime.