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Bug Distraction Causes I-65 South Bound to Close
Lake County-A
driver distracted by a bug that flew into his semi, crashed causing I-65 south
bound to be closed for hours.
Preliminary investigation by Master Trooper Martin Benner
revealed at approximately 9:35 a.m., this Thursday, July 12, 2018, morning, a
2009 Freightliner, owned by EM Company out of Lawrenceville, Georgia, and
driven by Christopher Walker, 28 of Thomson, Georgia, was south bound on I-65
in the right lane at the 235 mile marker (this is approximately five miles
south of the Lowell exit) when a bug flew in from his downed window. Walker tried to swat the bug and took his
eyes off the road causing him to drive off the roadway and hit the guardrail on
the right with his passenger side.
The Freightliner continued south hitting the guardrail when
it hit the concrete construction barrier wall on the west side causing the
trailer to become detached from the tractor.
The tractor came to rest in the middle of south bound lanes of traffic
(this is a two lane, no shoulder, well posted construction zone). The trailer went off the road to the west
rolling over onto its passenger side.
The trailer was split open after impacting the concrete construction
barrier wall throwing out 42,000 pounds of plastic rolls both onto the roadway
and over the embankment.
All traffic was diverted off at State Road 2 (Lowell exit). The rolls of plastic and tractor had to be
removed from the travel portion of I-65 before the left lane was re-opened to
clear out traffic that was stuck in the back-up. I-65 south bound is still closed for removal
of the trailer and traffic is still being diverted off at State Road 2. Please find alternate routes if heading south
on I-65. We hope to have I-65 south bound in this location open by
3:00 p.m.
Walker refused medical treatment at the scene and was cited
for Unsafe Lane Movement.
Assisting: Master Trooper Glen Fifield, Troopers Justin
Heflin, Andrew Rasala, Jason Pratt, Lake County Sheriff’s Department, and
Village Motors
Pictures are of the scene
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