February 4th, 2010 | 
Author: EAST ST. LOUIS, IL – A tractor trailer truck flipped over and burst into flames Monday morning on an Illinois highway. The roll over accident happened on Interstate 64 in East St Louis, IL. The area is in the south-central section of the state on the Missouri border in the St. Louis, MO metro region, 135 miles east of Jefferson City, MO and 295 miles southwest of Chicago, IL.
When the tractor truck rolled the impact caused one of the diesel fuel tanks to explode into flames.
At around 9:15 a.m. 35 year old Ladon Trigg of St. Louis, MO was driving a 2001 Freightliner tractor trailer truck loaded with garbage east on Interstate 64. As he neared the vicinity of Ninth Street, just east of the split with I-55 and 70, he apparently went into a curve at a high rate of speed and lost control of his truck…
As the tractor trailer truck came out of the curve it went off the highway on the left side, then crashed through a guardrail and flipped over. When the tractor truck rolled the impact caused one of the diesel fuel tanks to explode and burst into flames.
WATCH VIDEO
Witnesses in the area reported seeing a fireball and then a plume of black smoke in the sky. The fire would burn for several minutes before the smoke turned white. Two troopers and other drivers used fire extinguishers on the flames until East St. Louis firefighters arrived and put out the truck accident fire.
The truck driver Trigg, who was reportedly not wearing a seat belt, was trapped in the truck’s cab after the accident. First responder crews worked for over an hour trying to extricate Trigg from the truck, and he was finally freed at around 10:30 a.m. He was stabilized and then transported by ambulance to St. Louis University Hospital, a few miles away. According to Illinois State Police, Mr. Trigg was listed in serious condition.
MAP
When the tractor trailer truck rolled over, it lost its load of garbage, and the debris was strewn all over I-64. Crews were brought in to clean up the mess. Other personnel from the U.S Environmental Protection Agency worked at cleaning up diesel fuel and hydraulic material that had spilled from the tractor truck.
Illinois State Police temporarily closed all lanes of I-64 after the accident. Most of the I-64 lanes were reopened by 3:00 p.m. The eastbound I-64 ramp at the I-55/70 split, used mainly by Granite City traffic, would not be opened up again until 6:00 p.m.
STREET VIEW
Illinois State Police and the Department of Transportation are leading the investigation into the truck accident. They believe that the truck driver was driving too fast, but are looking at other possible factors, such as mechanical failure. No other vehicles were involved in the truck rollover accident.
The truck driver may face charges at the conclusion of the truck accident investigation.
For more information about Illinois and Missouri trucking laws, truck injury causes and victims rights, contact our nationwide truck accident attorneys for the best advise possible. For a free initial consultation, talk to an Illinois truck accident lawyer at 800.773.6770.
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