Semitrailer overturns on U.S. 23 pinning car
A semitrailer lies on its side in the median of southbound U.S. 23 Monday afternoon. Police said a car was pinned underneath it.
Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com
- Updated article: U.S. 23 crash: Motorist killed when semitrailer overturns onto car
Editor's note: This article has been updated to reflect the fact that the truck was hauling scrap metal.
Rescue crews worked feverishly Monday afternoon in the pouring rain to right a semitrailer that had overturned on U.S. 23 north of Six Mile Road, pinning a car underneath.
The trailer, the rear section of a double-trailer hauling scraps of metal, had turned over on its side in the median and had spilled part of its load. Michigan State Police confirmed the trailer had turned over onto a car. It had also had crushed two guardrails in the median of the freeway.
Crews had attached cables to the truck and had managed to right the trailer by about 2 p.m. By about 2:20 p.m., rescuers had cut away part of the car and covered it up with a sheet or tarp. One Northfield Township fire unit was leaving the scene.
Huron Valley Ambulance spokeswoman Joyce Williams said it was not immediately clear how many people were in the car.
The Washtenaw County Technical Rescue Team, of which HVA is a part was at the scene attempting the rescue, Williams said.
Traffic backed up on the freeway in both directions near the accident scene. The southbound lanes of the freeway were closed between Six Mile and Eight Mile roads. Emergency officials advised motorists to avoid the area. Reports indicated other crashes had occurred in the northbound lanes of the freeway near the accident scene.
View U.S. 23 crash 031113 in a larger map
Comments
StopThink
Mon, Mar 11, 2013 : 6:55 p.m.
"Michigan State Police confirmed the trailer had turned over onto a car. It had also had crushed two guardrails in the median of the freeway." - Sorry, but if a double-trailer gravel hauler is flying sideways toward the median, crushing the median in the process - I think a lot of people on the opposite side of the road may momentarily panic. What is to say the median would always stop such a large vehicle? It's all sad, second guessing any of it doesn't matter anyway.
PhillyCheeseSteak
Mon, Mar 11, 2013 : 6:24 p.m.
If this was indeed a double-trailer hauling gravel, I hope that it was empty. (It's hard to see from the photo.) I think that a "Michigan Gravel Train" can carry about 160,000 lbs!
djacks24
Mon, Mar 11, 2013 : 6:41 p.m.
If they should be outlawed, how else would you propose gravel, dirt, or sand be hauled? Also, there isn't anyone forcing you to follow them, is there? How about staying further behind or passing them? Or else let the rest of the world know your route and schedule so we may clear the road for your use.
Griffin
Mon, Mar 11, 2013 : 6:33 p.m.
Those trucks should be illegal. They are responsible for 99% of the dings on my windshield. I'm afraid to drive behind them because its like someone is shooting pebbles at my windshield. I hope everyone is okay - this is a sad story.
treetowncartel
Mon, Mar 11, 2013 : 6:18 p.m.
I just love watching those back trailers on the gravel haulers bounce around as they go down the highway
treetowncartel
Mon, Mar 11, 2013 : 7:51 p.m.
I'd like to add my condolonces to friends and family.