OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – A semi driver may face charges after he crashed his 18 wheeler Tuesday morning in a truck accident in Lincoln County, Oklahoma. The rollover crash occurred on Turner Turnpike in the northeast Oklahoma City metro region and left a section of the highway covered with a potentially hazardous material. The truck accident area is in the central part of the state, about 239 miles north of Dallas, Texas and about 175 miles west of Fort Smith, Arkansas.
On Tuesday morning an unidentified truck driver was driving east on Turner Turnpike, also known as Interstate 44. The driver is employed by Brooks Grease Service based in Tulsa, OK. At the time of the truck accident the driver was transporting a cargo of cooking grease from Oklahoma City to Tulsa.
Shortly after 6:00 a.m. Tuesday morning the semi driver was eastbound on the Turner Turnpike/I-44, traveling through the northeast part of Oklahoma City. The rollover truck accident happened as the semi trailer moved near Post Road, south of the suburb of Wellston. The tanker truck suddenly went off balance and flipped over on its right side. The tractor trailer skidded about 50 feet along the guardrail before finally coming to a rest, lying across the metal barrier and the shoulder of the interstate.
No other persons or vehicles were involved in the truck accident.
Emergency personnel with the Oklahoma City Fire Department rushed to the site of the overturned tanker. The driver was able to get out of his cab and received minor injuries to his hand in the truck accident. Paramedics treated the semi driver at the scene and there are no reports that he required hospitalization.
When the semi truck overturned the impact damaged the tanker section and the cargo of cooking grease began to leak out onto the highway. The grease, which was described as potentially hazardous, spread across the eastbound lanes of the interstate. A haz-mat team responded to the truck accident site and worked to clean the spill and keep it contained, however an unknown amount got into a nearby river.
Police shut down the Turner Turnpike/I-44 surrounding the crash site and diverted vehicles to secondary roads. For several hours after the truck accident occurred drivers were rerouted off the highway at the juncture with Interstate 35. They were then allowed back on eastbound I-44 at a point past Post Road. Police reopened the inside lane of the interstate shortly before noon on Tuesday, and they hoped to have the other lanes open by Friday.
According to the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority the outer lane and shoulder of the turnpike will remained closed for several days so crews can perform repairs. The grease that was spilled in the truck accident destroyed the asphalt surface. Highway crews will have to dig up the wrecked asphalt and repave the damaged sections of the interstate. Workers will also have to replace the guardrail that was ruined when the semi truck skidded on the barrier.
Police have reconstructed the single vehicle truck accident and may file charges against the driver. According to reports, the semi driver allegedly fell asleep at the wheel just before he flipped the 18 wheeler and crashed into the guardrail. It is not known if police officers suspect drugs or alcohol, or if the driver had to submit to a toxicology screening. Commercial Vehicle Inspectors will likely look at the driver’s log books to determine if he was taking the required rest breaks.
No charges have been brought yet, pending the completion of the truck accident investigation.
Provided By: 360 News Wire
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