Semi Truck Runs Off Road, Crashes In River
GREEN OAK TWP. (WWJ) - Police say the driver of a semi truck misread construction signage, ran off the road and crashed into the Huron River.
Green Oaks Township Police Chief Robert Brookins said the accident happened on US-23 near Brighton shortly before 5 a.m. Friday.
Reporting live from the scene WWJ's Mike Campbell said the area is under construction, just north on the Silver Lake Road exit on US-23.
"What happens on US-23 is it splits into two different lanes with the construction in the middle of that, so there's traffic on either side of the construction, and they're rebuilding the bridge right where this truck went through," Campbell said.
Brookins said the 46-year-old truck driver was traveling northbound through the construction area, when he apparently misread the signage, traveled off the road to a grassy area, crashed through the retaining wall and into the Huron River.
Investigators say water came filled the bottom of the cab,but when fire crews arrived, they could still see the seats and pulled the driver to safety.
"Fortunately, he was restrained adequately and was able to prevent any injury to himself," said Fire Chief William Steele.
Steele said crews from the Department of Environmental Quality are investigating because they're worried about potential damage to the river.
"We notified DEQ and the DNR both because of the potential of the saddle tanks, carrying the diesel product that it does, that may contaminate the river. We're taking the necessary precautions to prevent that," Steele said.
So far, crews have not been able to find any leaks.
Northbound US-23 was closed for several hours between M-36 and Lee Road while road crews cleared the scene.
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