August 10th, 2010 | 
Author: LAFAYETTE, IN – A semi trailer truck transporting new passenger cars overturned Friday morning, July 23, on a highway in Tippecanoe County, Indiana. The tractor trailer was reportedly swerving for several miles before it apparently went out of control and flipped over in the northbound lanes of Interstate 65 near Lafayette, IN. The truck accident area is in the northwest section of the state about 63 miles northwest of Indianapolis, IN and about 125 miles southeast of Chicago, Illinois.
All of the cars were damaged in the tractor trailer semi truck rollover accident.
Shortly before 8:00 a.m. Friday morning truck driver C. Ray Smith of West Brooklyn, Illinois was traveling north on Interstate 65 in Tippecanoe County, IN. Mr. Smith was hauling a trailer loaded with ten new Toyota Camry passenger cars.
According to authorities, the Indiana State Police had received a call that the semi trailer that Mr. Smith was driving was swerving from side to side on the interstate. A Master Trooper with the ISP reported that the semi trailer truck was allegedly traveling erratically for about ten miles.
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While Indiana State Police troopers were on their way to find the semi trailer truck, the driver Mr. Smith had apparently lost control of the 18 wheeler rig on I-65 north of Indiana State Route 43 near mile marker 183. By the time that State Police troopers reached the scene of the truck accident the semi trailer had already flipped and overturned, crashing across the northbound lanes on the interstate.
No other vehicles or persons were involved in the truck accident.
The force of the truck accident weakened the restraints on the cargo of passenger cars and two of the Toyota Camry vehicles became loose and rolled down the interstate. All of the cars were damaged in the rollover truck accident and at least one was completely destroyed.
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Local emergency personnel also responded to the semi truck accident scene. According to officials the truck driver, Mr. Smith, was able to get out of the cab of his semi trailer truck and was not injured in the rollover truck accident.
The truck accident had a great impact on the Friday morning commuter traffic as the disabled semi trailer blocked the northbound lanes on the highway. Troopers shut down a section of the interstate around the accident site while highway crews worked to remove the wreckage of the semi trailer truck and the damaged and destroyed Toyota Camry passenger cars. A heavy duty truck was brought in to help get the trailer back up on its wheels and off the I-65 traffic lanes.
Authorities investigating the truck accident conducted a reconstruction of the incident. Officials have not released their findings on why the semi truck was swerving on the interstate and it is not known if they suspect drugs or alcohol as factors. Commercial truck investigators will likely be brought in to check the condition of the semi truck and to determine if there were any mechanical problems.
The truck driver was cited for Unsafe Lane Movement. Other charges may be brought pending the completion of the truck accident investigation.
For more information about Indiana trucking laws, truck injury causes and victims rights, contact a nationwide truck accident attorney at Gordon, Elias & Seely, LLP for expert advice. For a free initial consultation, talk to an IN truck accident lawyer at 800.773.6770.
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