Rockwood, MI Semi Truck Accident on I-75 Blocks Traffic For Hours

January 23rd, 2012 |

ROCKWOOD, MI – On Friday, January 20, 2012 a semi truck overturned under the I-75 overpass in Rockwood, MI, blocking traffic for hours.

A semi truck overturned on the northbound I-75 in Rockwood, MI on Friday, January 20, 2012, blocking traffic for hours. Photo credit: Mike Campbell / CBS WWJ Detroit

Rockwood is located in Wayne County, Michigan in the southeastern part of the state about 49 miles south of Rochester Hills, 46 miles southwest of Troy, 40 miles southwest of Warren and 33 miles southeast of Livonia.

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The accident occurred around 4:00 a.m. early Friday morning on the northbound I-75 at the Woodruff Rd overpass.

Map showing location of semi truck accident in Rockwood, MI on the northbound I-75 near the Woodruff Rd. overpass.

The tractor trailer was traveling northbound on I-75 when it struck a concrete divider at the Fort Street exit (Exit 28), then rolled along the wall until it flipped over on its side, coming to rest under the Woodruff Road overpass.

The semi trailer had markings indicating it belonged to Verspeeten Cartage, from Ingersoll, Ontario, Canada, about 277 miles northwest of Rockwood.

An article in the CBS News website in Detroit reported on the story:

It appears the truck hit an exit divider and rode the wall before flipping on its side and sliding under the overpass at Woodruff Road. Rockwood Fire Chief Dan Mercure said the accident happened in the early morning hours. “The driver was going northbound on I-75, hit the extender here, drove up on the top, rolled over. It was carrying auto parts. We took the driver to the hospital and we’re just trying to get the area cleaned up now and get this road opened up”

The 18 wheeler was hauling crates of automotive parts or machinery which had to be removed from the trailer before it could be uprighted by wreckers. Cleanup crews used a forklift to move the heavy cargo before the trailer and tractor could be put upright and then removed from the scene of the accident.

The driver was taken to the hospital. There are no details as to the driver’s condition, but media reports indicate that his injuries were minor.

A section of the Interstate between Woodruff Rd and Gibraltar to the north had to be closed while the wreckage was cleared from the scene of the accident.

Traffic was blocked on the Interstate for about 8 hours while crews worked to cleanup the debris.

Authorities do not know what caused the accident. It is currently under investigation.

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Rockwood, MI Semi Truck Accident on I-75 Blocks Traffic For Hours