Semis, Pickup Collide On U.S. 30 West; Highway Closed For More Than Eight Hours

July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.

By Ruth Anne Lipka, Times-Union Lifestyles Editor-

ATWOOD - No serious injuries were reported in an accident that closed the westbound lanes of U.S. 30 for more than eight hours Monday.

Two semi tractor/trailers and a truck were involved in the 5:07 p.m. accident west of CR 800W, near Atwood. When all was said and done, both semi rigs were hung up on highway infrastructure and the labor of getting the vehicles back on the road began.

According to the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department, a truck driven by Buell A. Hoffer, 82, of West CR 900N, Nappanee, was struck from behind by a semi tractor/trailer driven by John J. Posada, 49, of St. Marys, Ohio. Hoffer had pulled onto the driving lane of westbound U.S. 30 from CR 800W and Posada, who reportedly told police he had "a football field and a half" leeway, didn't move over into the passing lane and he collided with Hoffer's truck.

Posada's rig then began to jackknife and another semi tractor/trailer, driven by Ricky J. Isham, 31, Stanford, Ky., struck the driver's side of the trailer Posada was hauling.

Posada's tractor/trailer collided with a bridge embankment and came to rest in the grass median on the west side of the creek there and on top of the guardrail.

Isham's rig came to rest on the bridge in the passing lane of U.S. 30.

During the investigation of the accident and the subsequent transfer of the load of pipe on one of the rigs, U.S. 30 westbound lanes were closed to traffic. Westbound traffic was routed onto the eastbound lanes of the highway and eastbound traffic was diverted to U.S. 30. The detour remained in effect until about 1:30 this morning.

Isham complained of pain after the accident and a passenger in Hoffer's truck, Juanita Hoffer, 78, of West CR 900N, Nappanee, complained of head pain. Both were treated at Kosciusko Community Hospital and released, according to police.

Damage from the accident is estimated at $10,000 to $25,000 to Posada's tractor and trailer; $25,000 to $50,000 to Isham's rig; and less than $750 each to Hoffer's truck and the state of Indiana bridge embankment. [[In-content Ad]]

ATWOOD - No serious injuries were reported in an accident that closed the westbound lanes of U.S. 30 for more than eight hours Monday.

Two semi tractor/trailers and a truck were involved in the 5:07 p.m. accident west of CR 800W, near Atwood. When all was said and done, both semi rigs were hung up on highway infrastructure and the labor of getting the vehicles back on the road began.

According to the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department, a truck driven by Buell A. Hoffer, 82, of West CR 900N, Nappanee, was struck from behind by a semi tractor/trailer driven by John J. Posada, 49, of St. Marys, Ohio. Hoffer had pulled onto the driving lane of westbound U.S. 30 from CR 800W and Posada, who reportedly told police he had "a football field and a half" leeway, didn't move over into the passing lane and he collided with Hoffer's truck.

Posada's rig then began to jackknife and another semi tractor/trailer, driven by Ricky J. Isham, 31, Stanford, Ky., struck the driver's side of the trailer Posada was hauling.

Posada's tractor/trailer collided with a bridge embankment and came to rest in the grass median on the west side of the creek there and on top of the guardrail.

Isham's rig came to rest on the bridge in the passing lane of U.S. 30.

During the investigation of the accident and the subsequent transfer of the load of pipe on one of the rigs, U.S. 30 westbound lanes were closed to traffic. Westbound traffic was routed onto the eastbound lanes of the highway and eastbound traffic was diverted to U.S. 30. The detour remained in effect until about 1:30 this morning.

Isham complained of pain after the accident and a passenger in Hoffer's truck, Juanita Hoffer, 78, of West CR 900N, Nappanee, complained of head pain. Both were treated at Kosciusko Community Hospital and released, according to police.

Damage from the accident is estimated at $10,000 to $25,000 to Posada's tractor and trailer; $25,000 to $50,000 to Isham's rig; and less than $750 each to Hoffer's truck and the state of Indiana bridge embankment. [[In-content Ad]]

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