Murray, Ky.–The driver of the truck hauling a 44,480 pound load of fertilizer that overturned near Murray was trapped inside the vehicle and taken to the local hospital after being extricated by emergency workers.
As reported earlier this morning, the truck was traveling on Hwy. 94 E when the accident occurred and the highway was blocked for several hours as cleanup was conducted of the wreckage and the spilled load, which included diesel and hydraulic fluid. According to the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet press release, the truck was working for the Henry Farmers Coop which helped with the cleanup.
At approximately 8:20 a.m., the Calloway County 911 Communications Center received the report of a single vehicle semi accident on Highway 94 East near Highland Road.
The caller said the vehicle was overturned and there was one occupant trapped inside. The operator, Brian Shelton, was extricated from the wreckage by Calloway County Fire-Rescue and Murray-Calloway County EMS and transported to Murray-Calloway County Hospital.
According to the press release from the Calloway County Sheriff’s Office this afternoon, after investigation it appears as though Shelton dropped off the right side of the roadway for an unknown reason and his 44,480 pound load of fertilizer shifted causing the semi and trailer to overturn and come to rest upside down on the right side of the roadway.
The roadway stayed closed for several hours due to clean up and removal of the wreckage and the spilled load. Calloway County Sheriff’s Office was assisted at the scene by CCFR, EMS, Calloway Co. Emergency Management, and the State Highway Department.