Idaho State Police (ISP) say that a semi truck driver hauling missiles for the U.S. military managed to shut down I-90 for two hours over the weekend when he crashed near a rest area.
The incident happened in the Coeur d’Alene area on Friday, March 8, around 7:15 p.m., according to a news release form the ISP.
Troopers say that 47 year old Oklahoma based truck driver Mark W. Dearinger was hauling sixteen 2,000 pound missiles on I-90 when he travelled near the eastbound Huetter rest area and passed through the Port of Entry at mile marker 8.
Police described how the crash occurred:
“Dearinger inadvertently drove into the hazmat containment area instead of using the Interstate on ramp. At the end of the containment area Dearinger drove over a large snow bank causing the truck to be disabled.”
No injuries were reported.
🚨Traffic Alert 🚨Due to an incident at the rest area I-90 is CLOSED IN BOTH DIRECTIONS from exit 5 to exit 12. Please use alternate routes. We anticipate at the closure to last until at least 10pm. pic.twitter.com/Ownt71ed5t
— Idaho State Police (@ispdistrict1) March 9, 2019
Authorities closed down I-90 for four miles in both directions for about two hours while they worked to determine that the load of missiles on the crashed truck was not hazardous.
Dearinger was cited for inattentive driving.