Semi driver escapes serious injury in I-80 crash

UPDATE: The driver of a semi-trailer truck escaped serious injury when his rig plowed through a guardrail and overturned Wednesday morning on Interstate 80.

Adrian S. Thomas, 30, of Gun Barrel City, Texas, was westbound around 8:40 a.m. at the 228 mile marker, a few miles east of Williamsburg, when he reached for a cup and lost control, according to the Iowa State Patrol. The semi ran over the edge of a guardrail at an overpass and went between the guardrail and the embankment, where the tractor and trailer came apart. The trailer tipped onto its side, while the tractor stopped upside down.

Sgt. Bob Cox said Thomas was pulled from the wreckage and taken by ambulance to University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. His injuries were not considered life-threatening, Cox said.

Dozens of boxes containing a frozen scrambled egg mixture were strewn along the interstate. A snow plow pushed the debris off to the side.

Cox said the Thomas first claimed he hit water on the roadway and lost control, but troopers were unable to find any collected water or low spots to the east.

Authorities were finishing up at an accident less than a mile to the east that had caused traffic to slow when the semi crashed, Cox said. Dense fog also reduced visibility in the area.

Traffic crawled by the accident scene for about two hours, until all lanes were reopened around 10:30 a.m.

View Larger Map