Semi overturns spilling load of milk

AMY DAVIDSON PHOTO

On Wednesday, February 7, at approximately 10:40 a.m., an accident occurred at the US 50 West and US 421 South Intersection in front of McDonalds in Versailles. According to the driver for Guenther Farms, Hayden Guenther, 26, of Ross, Ohio, he was turning left off US 50 West onto US 421 South on his way to deliver milk to his customers. There was a silver truck at the intersection across the white line and while Guenther turned sharp left to miss the truck, the semi-truck overturned. Baffles help semis carrying liquid loads to keep balance but on a milk semi-truck load they don’t have those, which can cause shifts in milk weight that could cause an accident like on Wednesday.

Guenther was trapped in the semi-truck, and a witness came over to the accident, pulling the smashed windshield open enough for Guenther to get out. Guenther was checked out by Ripley County EMS and did not have to be taken to the hospital with any injuries.

Todd’s Wrecker Towing and Recovery had two tow trucks assisting with getting the semi upright with two other tow trucks on standby. Versailles Fire Dept. was there to assist with cleanup of debris, milk and antifreeze from the semi. The fuel tanks were not affected in the accident.

Police officers from Versailles, Ripley Co. Sheriff’s Office and Indiana State Police were assisting with traffic during the clean-up of the accident. Speed may have been a factor in the accident, along with the vehicle over the intersection, but after Indiana State Police did an inspection on the vehicle, the driver’s breaks looked like there may have been a malfunction which was also being looked at as a factor of not being able to slow down during the turn. Deputy Marshal of Versailles, Cody Buchanan, oversaw the accident scene.