Truck overturns on Decatur curve

Photo by Mike Eckels A gravel truck belonging to Neosho Trucking, Neosho, Mo., overturned Dec. 29 near the corner of S. Main Street and Third Street in Decatur, spilling its contents.
Photo by Mike Eckels A gravel truck belonging to Neosho Trucking, Neosho, Mo., overturned Dec. 29 near the corner of S. Main Street and Third Street in Decatur, spilling its contents.

DECATUR -- A tractor-trailer rig overturned on S. Main Street Dec. 29, spilling its contents onto the corner of Third Street and Main Street in Decatur.

William Charles Miller of Carterville, Mo. was traveling southbound on Main around 10:18 a.m. and had just negotiated the curve by the train depot when he noticed something felt different in the handling of the truck. When Miller looked in his side mirror, he noticed that both sets of tandem wheels on the driver's side of the trailer were off the ground. The truck then rolled on its side, spilling gravel onto Third Street

A unit from the Gravette Fire Department was dispatched to the scene. Miller was not injured in the accident.

The truck and trailer, owned by Neosho Trucking of Neosho, Mo., blocked the southbound lane of Main for about an hour while employees from Decatur Salvage worked to clear the wreckage from the street.

The immediate cause of the accident was not known. Decatur Police believe that the third axle on the truck, which was locked in the up position, made contact with the road, forcing the vehicle on its side. The passenger-side wheel on that axle was torn off the truck.

Damage to the truck was estimated at $5,000 and was confined to the passenger side of the vehicle. No citations where issued.

General News on 01/07/2015