Semi Hits Interstate Retaining Wall, Showers Debris on Vehicles Beneath

(THE ROLLED STEEL THAT CAME OFF A SEMI ONTO THE ROADWAY AND WAS STRUCK BY A VEHICLE)

Traffic was disrupted on the interstates on the north side of Effingham Monday morning when a semi hit a retaining wall, showering debris onto the roadway beneath.

Effingham Fire Chief Bob Tutko said a semi making the turn from eastbound I-70 onto northbound I-57 hit the retaining wall on the shoulder of the roadway. Debris from the contact fell onto I-70 westbound beneath the ramp. A westbound semi had debris shatter the windshield of the rig and get into the eyes of the driver. Additionally, the contact caused a load of rolled steel on the semi to flip off the bed of the rig onto the roadway. A vehicle struck the steel and the woman driving the vehicle was injured.

Tutko said you can literally see through a hole made by the incident down onto westbound 70.

(THE HOLE IN THE ROAD PRODUCED BY A SEMI STRIKING AN INTERSTATE RETAINING WALL)

Early information is that while all roadways impacted are open, that at least the one lane of the ramp damaged by the incident remains closed for repairs.

Listener Kimberly Vollmer sent us this on Facebook this morning. Kimberly wrote, "It was quite the surprise coming around that curve. Glad I was running a few minutes behind!"