5-Year-Old Texas Girl Dies After 34,000 Pound Aluminum Piece Falls From Flatbed
ST. LOUIS (CBSDFW.COM/AP) — It was before sunrise Monday when a massive piece of aluminum fell from a flatbed trailer. The metal, weighing some 34,000 pounds, crashed onto the truck pulling it and killed a 5-year-old Texas girl.
The aluminum fell from the trailer while traveling on Interstate-55 near St. Louis.
The accident happened about 5:30 a.m. Monday on the Poplar Street Bridge. Illinois State Police have not identified the child, who was from Texarkana, Texas.
The girl was riding in the sleeper berth of a Peterbilt truck that was hauling the massive piece of aluminum on a flatbed trailer. The truck struck the concrete center median and the aluminum piece became unstrapped. It struck the rear of the truck, causing it to overturn.
The girl was ejected. She died at a nearby hospital.
The truck driver, 44-year-old Janette Kirby of Texarkana, and two male passengers ages 15 and 17 were treated for minor injuries.
(© Copyright 2019 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)