VIDEO: Recovery operations included dragging the tractor of the semi-trailer truck across lanes of northbound I-94 (Edens Expressway) Friday night.
Skokie firefighter/paramedics, Illinois State Police, and the Emergency Traffic Patrol (“ETP Minutemen”) responded about 9:10 p.m. Friday to a crash involving a semi-trailer truck and three other vehicles. The semi-trailer truck jackknifed and rolled on its side. The trailer knocked down a tall light pole marking the 37 mile marker.
Three people suffered minor injuries. The semi-trailer tractor was severely damaged and destroyed during the crash. ETP personnel dragged the tractor trailer off of the expressway to a grassy area with heavy rescue recovery tow truck 921.. Ernies Towing took over the recovery, including removal of the cargo load of sacks of potatoes with a small end loader.
Fuel was reported leaking from the saddle tanks, which prompted a HazMat Box Alarm at about 9:25 a.m. Firefighters, hazmat techs, and fire chiefs from Evanston, Lincolnwood, Morton Grove, Niles, and Northfield provided mutual aid support. During Hazmat box alarm, northbound and southbound traffic was blocked on the Edens Expressway. The HazMat Box was struck out at about 10:16 p.m.
Some lanes in both directions were opened by midnight.
Traffic congestion indicated by wireless phones on the Edens Expressway immediately after the crash. Some drivers ended up driving in the reverse direction to get off of the Edens Expressway.
Ernie’s Towing and Recovery brought out a Heavy Rescue Tow Truck, a flatbed truck with a small end loader, a semi-trailer truck, and other equipment to go to work on the recovery of the wrecked semi-trailer truck on the Edens Expressway (I-94).
See also …
The Cardinal I-94 Blocked: Crash on Edens Expressway At Dempster St (Route 58) Involves Hazmat Operation For Fuel Leak from Semi-Trailer Truck on its Side
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Great to know that the potatoes were rescued.