Eastbound I-94 Reopens In Northwest Indiana, After Two-Truck Crash Near Burns Harbor
CHICAGO (CBS) — All lanes of eastbound Interstate 94 have reopened in northwest Indiana, more than seven hours after two semi-trailer trucks crashed, spilling cocoa powder, lithium batteries, and other materials on the expressway.
The crash happened around 3:45 a.m. near Burns Harbor. Indiana State Police said a 1999 Freightliner semi had pulled over and parked on the shoulder, when a 2016 Freightliner semi rear-ended it.
The driver of the first truck said he had pulled over to get a bottle of water, and the driver of the second truck said he was reaching over to get something from the passenger seat of his truck when he crashed into the first truck.
After the collision, the second truck crashed into the concrete median barrier wall.
Both trucks also spilled their loads in the crash.
One of the trucks was loaded with various merchandise, including 100 pounds of lithium batteries, according to Indiana State Police.
The other truck was carrying food products, including cocoa powder.
Police there was no hazardous material in either truck, but when the batteries leaked onto the cocoa powder, it ignited small fires, which firefighters doused with water.
There were no injuries.
All eastbound lanes were closed between U.S. 20 and State Road 49 after the crash. One lane reopened shortly before 9 a.m., and the rest of the eastbound lanes reopened around 11 a.m.
