A trucker is dead and several motorists injured after the driver suffered a medical emergency behind the wheel, causing the truck to strike a concrete barrier and launch its load of plywood into oncoming traffic.
The accident happened on Sunday morning in Richmond, Kentucky, on southbound Interstate 75.
The semi truck was traveling south in the center lane on I-75 when the driver, 54-year-old Billy Ray Berry, suffered a medical episode. Berry then lost control of the truck and hit a car beore the rig went scraping along the center median wall at a high rate of speed, reported Lex 18.
The wood was then torn from the flatbed trailer and thrown across the highway as cars swerved to avoid the flying planks.
The flying lumber caused several cars to drive off the road, and some vehicles that were struck went airborne.
At least 6 vehicles were involved in the accident in addition to the tractor trailer.
The truck driver, Billy Ray Berry, was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital. His exact cause of death is not yet known. An autopsy is scheduled for Monday, October 23rd.
Several car drivers suffered moderate injuries.
Several lanes of I-75 south were shut down for hours as crews worked to clear the debris from the road.
The lanes have since been reopened.
