Newton County-An early morning semi fire on north bound I-65 has closed the interstate for over 7 hours.
Preliminary investigation by Trooper William Stancy revealed at approximately 4:00 a.m., this Friday, February 10th, 2017 morning, a 2014 Peterbilt semi pulling a box trailer, owned by Hoekstra Transportation out of Saint Anne, Illinois, and driven by Ronald L. Snodgrass, 63 of Hartford, Michigan stopped on the right shoulder of I-65 north bound at the 232 mile marker (this is two miles north of the Demotte/Roselawn exit). The semi had a flat tire and his brakes had caught fire.
Snodgrass tried to put the fire out with his fire extinguisher and was unsuccessful. He also tried to disconnect his tractor from the trailer but by this time the fire was too intense.
The Peterbilt was loaded with cereal and vegetable oil). The vegetable oil kept reigniting and needed to be put out more than once. The tractor and most of the trailer were fully engulfed and traffic was diverted off north bound at State Road 10.
After the fire was extinguished, the rest of the load in the trailer had to be unloaded. Due to the extensive damage to the tractor and trailer equipment had to be brought in to clean up the site.
I-65 at this location is expected to be close until approximately 11:15-11:30 a.m. to complete the clean-up and removal of everything. Traffic is backed up for over 10 miles. Please seek alternate routes if you need to travel in this area.
Agencies assisting: Lincoln Township Fire, Cheevers Towing, Republic Services, Indiana Department of Transportation, and numerous troopers from the Lowell Post
-30-
All criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until, and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Pictures are of the fire scene
