Crews dig through piles of books by 'America's Master Gardener' during accident cleanup
Crews dig through boxes of gardening books scattered on U.S. 23 after a semi overturned Monday afternoon.
Courtesy of Michigan State Police
A picture released Tuesday morning by state police reveals the type of thorny challenges cleanup crews faced Monday evening when a semi truck filled with gardening books overturned on southbound U.S. 23 near Brighton.
The picture shows hundreds of boxes spilled on the freeway. Police said the boxes contained a book by New Hudson-based gardening author Jerry Baker, also know as "America's Master Gardener."
The crash occurred at 2:15 p.m. and wasn't cleared until 6:30 p.m., according to Sgt. Mark Thompson of the Michigan State Police. The shipment originated in New Hudson, where Baker's business operation is based, according to his website.
Police did not know where the shipment was headed when the semi rolled over Monday. A spokeswoman for Baker said the company did not have a comment when reached by phone Wednesday morning.
Thompson said preliminary investigation indicates the semi truck was traveling westbound on Interstate 96 and entered the on-ramp to southbound U.S. 23 when the accident happened.
"(The driver) was going too fast for the ramp curve, lost control and tipped the truck over," Thompson said.
The driver was treated at a local hospital for a minor laceration to the head and released, according to police.
John Counts covers cops and courts for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at johncounts@annarbor.com or you can follow him on Twitter.
Comments
mady
Fri, Jun 21, 2013 : 2:25 p.m.
Hoo boy!! free mulch!!!
Slim Jim
Wed, Jun 19, 2013 : 2:23 p.m.
I have met truck drivers through my job, and there are some issues out there. Unfortunately it's fairly easy to get a license and buy a truck, even if you can't speak or read English. No experience necessary.
Goofus
Wed, Jun 19, 2013 : 5:54 p.m.
Hmmm...that's funny...I know lots & lots of truly horrible drivers who speak & read English perfectly....but that doesn't stop them from driving like idiots.
G-Man
Wed, Jun 19, 2013 : 1:15 p.m.
I see lots of people driving too fast these days......Problem is those who want to hang in the left lane...... Anybody that's driven a rig knows that they don't stop on a dime, and if going around a curve to Slow Down......I'd say a license suspension and driving school are in order. Next time we might not be as lucky....
OLDTIMER3
Wed, Jun 19, 2013 : 1:43 p.m.
He may have been doing the posted speed and his load shifted who knows for sure. If the boxes of books were not secured properly they could have shifted causing the trailer to suddenly become unbalanced.
AnneArbour
Tue, Jun 18, 2013 : 7:37 p.m.
It seems to me that the driver should not only be ticketed but responsible for the cost of the clean-up. It's too bad he cannot be held responsible for the cost of the other driver's time. His failure to comply with the posted speeds created a mess but it could have been worse had another vehicle been involved. It's time for truckers (and all drivers) to pay attention and heed the speed limits.
Tesla
Tue, Jun 18, 2013 : 6:52 p.m.
Maybe they should have put molasses on the wheels to make them sticky.
Samuel Burns
Tue, Jun 18, 2013 : 6:21 p.m.
Thankfully there wasn't a car next to the truck when it flipped. We saw how bad that can turn out recently.
nickcarraweigh
Tue, Jun 18, 2013 : 5:57 p.m.
Jerry would've been proud of the publicity, God rest him. I loved his weather forecasts.
Tesla
Tue, Jun 18, 2013 : 6:51 p.m.
Jerry Baker is still alive. You're thinking Jerry Hodak.
dugster
Tue, Jun 18, 2013 : 5:43 p.m.
Now if he really was a Master Gardener. just "planting" the books on the freeway would have started a new garden. LOL
YpsiGreen
Tue, Jun 18, 2013 : 5:20 p.m.
well hey, at least it's free compost now...
Oscar Lavista
Tue, Jun 18, 2013 : 10:21 p.m.
and that's beneficial to your garden!
bamboozled
Tue, Jun 18, 2013 : 3:39 p.m.
"(The driver) was going too fast for the ramp curve, lost control and tipped the truck over." Clear weather, dry conditions, no mechanical problem cited and no medical issue. A person who is paid money to operate a motor vehicle essentially shuts down a major southbound artery for hours. There were certainly job interviews or perhaps important medical appointments missed. Seems the punishment should be more than just a traffic citation. At least (this time) the semi didn't land on top of a car and kill the occupant. That was last month.
Crono
Tue, Jun 18, 2013 : 4:02 p.m.
Just another day on US-23.
shutthefrtdoor
Tue, Jun 18, 2013 : 3:17 p.m.
I drove by this yesterday and let me tell ya...traffic was backed up all the way to M-59 and onto 59. And...there was wrecks ON 59...what a mess.
Bertha Venation
Tue, Jun 18, 2013 : 2:50 p.m.
Hey John, What about TODAY's (Tues., 6/18/13) bad accident on W/B I-94 just east of US-23? I heard it on WEMU early this morning, and Clark said it was a real mess. Any news/pics on that accident???