I-90/94 Ramp Damaged By Truck Full Of Pigs
PORTAGE, Ind. (CBS) - Officials have closed the Interstate 94 ramp to westbound I-90 in Northwest Indiana, as they try to determine how severely it was damaged after a truck full of pigs fell onto it from a ramp above.
A total of 23 pigs were killed, and dozens more were left wandering the roadway, when the 2003 Volvo semi-trailer truck fell from the ramp at 11:42 a.m. Monday.
The truck was operated by Steve's Livestock of Manitoba, Canada, and driven by Manitoba resident Jakob Konn, 26. Konn was headed west on the Indiana Toll Road (I-90) at the 20-mile mark when he got on the ramp to eastbound I-94.
But he was going too fast and he lost control of the truck. As the ramp turned to a curve, the truck plunged about 25 feet onto the westbound ramp below.
A total of 79 pigs were on the truck. Many ended up wandering the grassy berm separating the ramp from westbound toll road traffic. Animal haulers rescued the surviving pigs.
The pigs were being taken to Bob Evans Farm in Hillsdale, Mich.
Konn was taken to Saint Mary's Hospital in Hobart, Ind., after suffering non-life threatening injuries. He was wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash.
Konn was also ticketed by police for speed too fast to avoid a collision.
As of Tuesday morning, the I-94 to I-90 west bound ramp will remain closed until further notice as officials determine the structural damage and drivers should use the Portage or the I-65 exits instead, the release said.
The Sun-Times Media Wire contributed to this report.
