Semi-truck crash Indiana Toll Road

HAMMOND, Ind. (CBS) — A UPS semi-truck drove off a bridge on the Indiana Toll Road and caught fire just before slipping into the Calumet River early Friday – but the driver escaped with only minor accidents.

Indiana State Police mentioned just right after 2 a.m., the truck hit the Calumet River bridge and caught fireplace. CBS 2’s Kris Habermehl explained the truck dropped in amongst the east and west lanes. By 11 a.m., element of the truck had detached and fallen into the h2o.

Yet another component of the semi was afterwards saved suspended by a crane.

Hammond hearth and scuba crews were contacted for the reason that responders feared the driver, a 32-calendar year-previous resident of south suburban Lansing, was in the river and quite possibly trapped in the cab. But he was discovered just after about 20 minutes clinging to a bridge help wherever he was rescued and transported to St. Catherine’s Medical center for treatment of non-life-threatening accidents.

He has because been introduced from the hospital.

As CBS 2’s Marybel González claimed Friday night, it took scuba teams, a number of fireplace departments, and even a hazmat staff to very clear the scene. Cleanup crews were being nonetheless hunting the river for debris Friday night time – even in the dark.

Longtime investigators said it was a person of the worst incident they had found in a while.

“It’s been a wild working day,” reported Hammond Deputy Fireplace Chief Bernie Grisolia. “We see lousy incidents – but to see something like this this morning, it was unbelievable.”

Grisolia’s crew was among the the very first to answer.

“The taxi was basically in the water. We had fireplace,” Grisolia stated. “It was just essentially a wonder to have anybody survive what we have observed these days.”

But the driver only endured minor accidents.

“We did a quick lookup into the taxi of the semi-truck, where they could not come across any person. The crews started sweeping the drinking water way, on the lookout for the driver if he was ejected. No luck,” Grisolia claimed. “In about 15 minutes, we did listen to some yelling. He was truly hanging on leading of the concrete pillar above there.”

It was unclear Friday night what brought on the crash, but UPS said they are happy their driver is alright.

UPS released the pursuing statement: “We are grateful our driver is protected and that no other cars had been included. We are doing work with responding authorities on this continuing investigation.”

Meanwhile, cleanup attempts ongoing by way of the working day and night.

“When that alarm goes off and you get the simply call, you know if someone’s is calling for enable, you you should not genuinely know until you get on the scene,” said Lake County, Indiana Hazmat Coordinator Invoice Missal.

The Lake County Hazmat Crew searched the Calumet River for any oil spills. Their very first responders claimed it was teamwork that produced the rescue hard work possible.

“To wander away from this, it was just a blessed working day for anyone,” Grisolia said. “It was a miracle.”

We did test to get in speak to with the driver to get his facet of this harrowing tale, but we had been unable to reach him.

We are informed the cleanup endeavours will resume Saturday morning alongside the Calumet River.