Truck driver injured in Sunday wreck on I-70

Monday, September 8, 2008

By KATHY FAIRCHILD/Staff writer

A truck driver from Texas walked away with minor injuries after an accident on Interstate 70 totaled the 2007 Freightliner he was driving early Sunday morning. Sept. 7.

According to a report from Missouri State Highway Patrol, Larry J. Thomas, 55, of Crosby, Texas, was eastbound on I-70 just before 5 a.m., when he fell asleep at the wheel, losing control of the truck, according to the report.

The vehicle traveled off the roadway and back on, then overturned and came to rest on its side, blocking both lanes of I-70.

Thomas was cited for careless and imprudent driving; he was wearing a safety device at the time of the accident, troopers said.

He was treated for minor injuries at I-70 Medical Center.

Contact Kathy Fairchild at marshallhealth@socket.net

Comments

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falling asleep driving is not unique only to truck drivers. wasn't that long ago a nurse fell asleep at Marshall Jct. and had an accident. I know many people for different reasons have problems driving long distances. Do not be so quick to judge. Do not forget what the truck driver is hauling (freight we all use and need daily) THANK YOU TRUCK DRIVERS

-- Posted by sscc on Thu, Sep 11, 2008, at 8:24 AM

It might be a good idea to write comments, run them through spell check and THEN post.

Anyone who has driven for many years has probably had at least a couple of close calls. Sleepiness can hit at 11:30 a.m., 4 p.m. or 3 a.m.

I once nodded off. Fortunately, I bit my tongue and that woke me up as I was passing a truck. That was in 1971.

Driving a grandson to college in 1995, I nodded off, but the rumble strips woke me up. We tried to find coffee, but shops were closed in the rural area on a Sunday afternoon.

Haven't had a traffic ticket since 1969. That was for making a boulevard stop at a stop sign.

I've known a lot of outstanding truck drivers. Many of whom have made some mighty fine choices in their lives.

-- Posted by upsedaisy on Mon, Sep 8, 2008, at 9:09 PM

Why does everyone downgrade us truckdrivers? I have seen alot of accidents all over the country. Some are trucks and some are cars. People who work from 8 to 10 hrs a day then get in their car and driving from here to ST.LOUIS can have a bad wreck just like a trucker. It could happen to you just as easy.

-- Posted by slowpoke on Mon, Sep 8, 2008, at 8:19 PM

hey notgvnasht....don't classify all "truck-drivers" into one. Not all drivers are careless and make bad choices....

-- Posted by prd123 on Mon, Sep 8, 2008, at 4:10 PM

Another truckdriver making bad choises. It never fails to suprise me when i see something like this. Thank god he did not hurt or kill a family on that same road.

-- Posted by notgvnasht on Mon, Sep 8, 2008, at 3:44 PM