Semitrailer on its side after hitting a tire

Roll-over semi catches fire and gridlocks traffic on I-80/94

Contributed By:The 411 News

A semi-trailer truck lost control, after hitting a tire, overturning his trailer, and catching his tractor on fire, blocking three lanes of west bound traffic on I-80/94 at Calumet Avenue.

Preliminary investigation by Sergeant Lee Wright revealed at approximately 12:41 p.m., a 2014 Volvo tractor pulling a rail container, operated by Evans Delivery Company out of Pottsville, Pennsylvania, and driven by Amrik Bal, 56 of Indianapolis, was west bound on I-80/94 when he hit a tire that was laying in the left middle lane. The truck then hit the concrete barrier median wall causing the trailer to lose its rear tandem tires.

The trailer rolled-over onto its side, a diesel fuel tank on the tractor ruptured and the tractor caught fire. The tractor was completely engulfed. Bal was able to exit the tractor on his own and was taken to Saint Margaret’s Hospital in Hammond with non-life threatening injuries.

A 2000 Ford tow truck, owned by On Time Towing out of Park Forest, Illinois and driven by Dwayne A. Harris, 40 of Park Forest was east bound on I-80/94 when he lost his dual tires off the left rear tow truck. One of the tires came to rest on the east bound inner berm and the second tire went over the median barrier wall where Bal’s semi hit it.

The left three lanes west bound were closed for extinguishing the fire, removing the injured, cleaning up of the roadway, and towing of the truck and trailer. Delays in the west bound lanes continued into the early evening hours of Wednesday.

Story Posted:03/21/2018