Two separate tractor-trailer accidents forced the closure of the I-90 near Exit 25A for five hours on Wednesday, Feb. 29, night.
The first accident occurred at approximately 8:16 p.m. when an eastbound tractor-trailer, owned by Nebraska based Crete Carrier Corp, went out of control on the snow covered roadway, according to police. The truck jack-knifed and collided with the median, which police said resulted in damage to a large portion of the guardrail.
Shortly after the accident, a second accident occurred nearby at 8:20 p.m., when another eastbound tractor-trailer, owned by Illinois based Pro-Trans Logistics, Inc., spun out of control at the beginning of an deceleration ramp into Exit 25A, according to police reports. The truck initially struck and damaged a crash cushion located between the roadway and exit ramp, but continued east and struck the cement support for the D&H Rail Road overpass, according to police. The railroad overpass didn’t receive structural damage.
The trailer, loaded with general merchandise, was demolished in the accident, said police, and its contents and debris littered the roadway, which forced the closure of the exit ramp thruway lanes.
Eastbound traffic was detoured at Exit 26 and vehicles caught behind the accident were rerouted off the Thruway. The eastbound lanes were reopened at 1:30 a.m. on Thursday, March 1. Both trucks were towed from the scene by Gary’s Towing.
The truck driver involved in the first accident, Francis M. Karanja, 37, of Murfreesboro, Tenn., was uninjured and was issued a ticket for speed unreasonable for roadway conditions.
The second truck driver Robert Kun, 38, of Phoenix, Ariz., was also uninjured and issued a ticket for speed unreasonable for roadway conditions.
