A truck driver was able to walk away after his tanker truck crashed off of an I-44 overpass this morning.
The crash happened around 7 a.m. in the eastbound lanes of I-44 near the Washington Exit in downtown St. Louis.
Tanker left dangling from overpass after interstate crash in St. Louis https://t.co/LZrfGu7fAT pic.twitter.com/acSiI8QQRN
— Fire Engineering (@fireengineering) July 27, 2017
Empty Tanker Fishtailed On Wet Interstate
According to reports in the St. Louis Post Dispatch, 62 year old truck driver Vernon McKellips was hauling an empty asphalt tanker truck when he started to fishtail. McKellips fought to regain control of the truck and wound up crashing through the concrete barrier on I-44, sending his truck plunging down 30 feet from the overpass.
The cab of the truck crashed into the roadway below while the rear of the tanker trailer remained on I-44.
Tanker truck falls from I-44 in downtown St. Louis https://t.co/3jPYDF0O2p pic.twitter.com/60aq96S6oS
— STLtoday (@stltoday) July 27, 2017
McKellips suffered only a gash over his eye during the crash.
Another vehicle may have been involved in the incident, but the Missouri State Highway Patrol is still investigating. The roadway was wet at the time of the crash.
The crash caused serious traffic backups during the morning rush hour.
large tow drivers work in tandem to lower dangling tanker off of 44 at Washington Ave @FOX2now 3 minor injuries pic.twitter.com/SGgjuafVRK
— John Pertzborn (@PERTZFOX) July 27, 2017