VALE, S.D. – The wind played a role in the rollover crash of a semi truck and trailer at mile marker 121 on Highway 79 Tuesday.
Tony Mangan, spokesman with the South Dakota Highway Patrol, says a semi truck transporting approximately 44,680 pounds of mulch was northbound on SD Highway 79.
Wind gusts reaching 90 miles an hour caused the driver to lose control of the vehicle. The semi-truck and trailer crashed into a guard rail and jack knifed. The truck and trailer slid backwards across a bridge, blocking both lanes of traffic on the north side of the bridge. The area was closed to traffic for about 4 ½ hours.
The highway patrol had to detour north and south travelers onto side roads to get around the crash.
The 57-year-old driver was wearing a seat belt and was not injured.
No charges are pending.
courtesy photo.
