No one was injured in an accident Monday morning in which authorities say consisted of a semi pulling a fully loaded trailer sideswiping a tri-axle that closed US 231 north of Jasper for about a half an hour affecting the morning commute.
Deputies with the Dubois County Sheriff’s Department say shortly after 7 am yesterday a Freightliner Cascadia driven by 28-year old Jonathan Haskins of Louisville was northbound on U.S. 231 pulling a fully-loaded trailer.
Deputies say a vehicle in front of Haskins was looking to make a left hand turn onto Old Road 45 in which they say Haskins failed to notice.
Deputies say he braked and veered left of the roadway’s center where his Freightliner sideswiped a southbound Kenworth T800 tri-axle driven by 67-year old Brian Leinenbach of Velpen.
Authorities say after the impact, the Freightliner traveled off the east side of U.S. 231, over a private drive and struck a telephone pole and pedestal box before coming to a final rest.
Police completely shut down 231 for approximately 30 minutes while heavy-duty wreckers from Ruxer Ford and Stork Service Center removed the semi and trailer from the ditch. Haskins’ tractor-trailer had to be towed from the scene due to heavy damage while Leinenbach’s Tri-Axle was able to be driven from the scene.
Deputies estimated the total damage between the two vehicles between $20,000 to $40,000.
Deputies were assisted at the scene by officers with the Jasper Police Department.
