CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - Tuesday, July 28,2009 - 9:00 am - City of Chattanooga
Firefighters and medics with Hamilton County EMS were called to an accident
on Interstate 75 Southbound near the I-24 split. When crews arrived on the
scene they reported an overturned semi tractor trailer and a car with heavy
damage. Rescuers quickly started checking for injuries, while City of
Chattanooga police officers started their investigation. Several southbound
lanes of the interstate were blocked by the crash.
Although the small car involved had major
damage, the driver was uninjured. However the truck driver of the semi truck
sustained some minor injuries and was trapped it the truck due to the
position it landed. Firefighters were able to free the driver in short
order. The driver was transported to Erlanger Medical Center by medics with
Hamilton County EMS. The load on the semi trailer did receive much more
serious injuries. The full load of non-alcoholic beer was thrown through the
roof of the semi. Broken cases and bottles covered the ground around the
semi.
Doug Yates Wrecker Service was called to
the scene to handle the clean up and to upright the semi. Within minutes the
first large wrecker arrived on the scene and in typical Doug Yates fashion,
quickly moved the wreckage and debris from the roadway. All the southbound
lanes were clear, however for safety reasons, Firefighters keep the one lane
shut down for the emergency equipment.
Wrecker crews had the entire wreckage and
debris cleared up by 1:00. Traffic had already returned to a normal pace by
that time. City of Chattanooga Police believe the crash occurred when the
small car tried to change lanes abruptly causing the semi to crash, however
they are still investigating.
Story and photos by Bill Carson
