(Allen County, IN)-The Indiana State Police investigated a single vehicle crash this afternoon on I-69 near Illinois Road which had all three southbound lanes closed for more than an hour and caused significant traffic backups.
Preliminary investigation by Trooper Eric Parker indicated at approximately 2:45 p.m., a 1998 International dump truck driven by 44 year old James O. Parker, Jr. of Fort Wayne was traveling southbound at the 304.4 mile marker. The right front tire of the dump truck blew out causing the vehicle to travel off the right side of the road where it struck a guardrail and then vaulted up onto the side of the sound barrier wall.
The dump truck then rolled onto its passenger side and slid across all three southbound lanes before coming to a stop against the center concrete wall. The truck was loaded with dirt and other junk material which dumped over all three lanes between the 304.4 and 304.2 mile markers.
Parker, who was wearing his seatbelt at the time of the crash, was transported to a local hospital for minor injuries. Assisting at the scene were the Fort Wayne Police and Fire Departments, Allen County Emergency Management, Three Rivers Ambulance Authority (TRAA) and the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT).
