An overturned truck resulted in northbound I-57 north of the Kinmundy exit being closed for five hours late Wednesday night and early Thursday morning.
State Police says preliminary reports indicate the truck ran off the left side of the road and entered the center median. The driver then attempted to right the vehicle. As a result, the tractor and trailer it was towing overturned onto the driver’s side as it re-entered the roadway. The truck came to rest blocking both northbound lanes of traffic.
Kinmundy-Alma Fire Chief Kevin Days says the truck driver from Texas indicated he had fallen asleep. He was able to get out of the truck prior to the arrival of emergency help by breaking out the front windshield. The truck was hauling rice and some of the packages spilled onto the highway, with some breaking open on the interstate.
Landers Towing was able to right the trailer and get it on the side of the road and then towed the tractor unit to get the road reopened.
Marion County ESDA helped direct all northbound traffic off at the Kinmundy exit and then north on Route 37 to Farina. Farina Police assisted in the rerouting through Farina back to the interstate.
The crash occurred at 9:55 Wednesday evening. State Police say they reopened the highway at 2:51 am.
