Delaware State Police
News Release

Final Update (#3)- Oversized Load Crash Closes I-95

Released- Friday, January 30, 2009

Wilmington- The Truck Enforcement Unit has filed other charges against Mr. Richmond.  He was cited additionally with Traveling with a Vehicle Over Height and Having a Load Improperly Secured. 

Update #2- Oversized Load Crash Closes I-95

Released- Friday, January 30, 2009

Wilmington- At approximately 6:36 a.m. this morning, a tractor trailer, hauling a massive air handling unit encased in plywood sheathing, was traveling I-95 southbound approaching Route 202 in the middle lane. 

The truck was operated by Walter Richmond, 37, of Morristown, Indiana.  The truck traveled under Route 202 at which time the top portion of the air handler struck the Route 202 overpass. A large portion of the air handler and its wooden encasement broke off and landed on I-95.  The tractor trailer continued southbound and fled the scene.

Traveling behind the tractor trailer was a 2002 Mack dump truck, operated by Goran Pomar of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This vehicle struck they debris left behind by the tractor trailer and it sustained several flat tires and under-carriage damage. 

An off duty New Castle County Police Officer witnessed the tractor trailer fleeing the scene and followed it.  This officer called in the tractor trailer’s location to State Police dispatch and Troopers intercepted the fleeing truck on Route 141 at Route 48. 

Much to the Troopers’ surprise, the massive air handler, was not secured to the tractor portion of the truck as it was just resting on top of the flat bed. 

The Route 202 overpass was damaged as was portions of the highway.  Heavy equipment was called in to help remove the heavy debris from the road.  Several lanes of I-95 southbound were shut down for cleanup. 

Specialized investigators from the Delaware State Police Truck Enforcement Unit and the Collision Reconstruction Unit were called in to inspect the tractor trailer and its load.  The inspection of this truck is still underway.

In regards to the initial crashes, Mr. Walter Richmond was cited with the following traffic offenses: Failure to Exchange Information at a Crash Scene, Leaving the Scene of a Property Damage Crash, Failure to Report a Property Damage Crash, Inattentive Driving and Failure to Secure a Load Property.

Additional charges are expected to be filed by the DSP TEU.  When the inspection on the tractor trailer is complete, a final release will be provided with the new charges.

Update #1- Oversized Load Crash Closes I-95

Released- Friday, January 30, 2009

Wilmington- Interstate 95 has been reopened southbound.  This incident is still under investigation. 

An additional release will be forthcoming later today. 

DSP News Release:  Friday, January 30, 2009, Lanes Closed on I-95 Southbound

Location of Incident:  I-95 southbound, southbound of Route 202

Date and Time of Occurrence:  Friday, January 30, 2009, at 6:36 a.m.

Resume:   State Troopers are currently on the scene of a crash on I-95 southbound which has the two left lanes closed.  Preliminary reports indicate a truck hauling a modular building lost its load which ended up on the roadway.

No injuries are reported.

A more complete release will be provided later this morning when details surrounding this incident are known and confirmed.