12:15 p.m. update
COLUMBUS, Ind. — The female driver of a Pontiac Grand Am escaped serious injury after a semi driver dealing with a shifting load lost control of his truck, which turned over onto the passenger vehicle, police and witnesses said.
The accident occurred on the Robert N. Stewart Second Street bridge after the driver skidded nearly 200 feet while approaching the bridge, driver Lekedrick Hughes of Indianapolis told The Republic.
Hughes, who was not injured, was transporting a load of scrap metal from Indianapolis that was headed to Vernon, Indiana, he said.
As the load was shifting, the semi — which was in the far left lane of eastbound traffic approaching the bridge — started veering right, he said.
The semi landed on a white Grand Am, which Hughes said he did not see.
Firefighters extricated the female driver, who had minor injuries, Columbus police said.
The far left lane approaching and crossing the Second Street bridge opened to traffic about 11:30 a.m., police said. All lanes were not expected to reopen until about 3 p.m. today.
With one lane open, the traffic backup was considerable.
The driver of the Pontiac was identified as Connie Phillips, 63, who lives on County Road 400W in Bartholomew County.
11 a.m. original posting
COLUMBUS, Ind. — A semi overturned on the Robert Stewart Second Street Bridge this morning, landing on a passenger car, police said.
The female occupant of the passenger car was safely removed from her vehicle after the 10:50 a.m. accident today, said Lt. Matt Harris, Columbus Police Department spokesman. The semi driver was not seriously injured, Harris said.
Access into Columbus on State Road 46 has been blocked, and motorists looking to come into the city are encouraged to exit Interstate 65 at mile marker 76, near the Edinburgh Premium Outlets, onto U.S. 31.
The Republic has a coverage team at the accident site. Watch for updates.
