Driver from Portage identified after fatal crash, chemical spill on I-80 in LaGrange County shuts down road for hours
Indiana State Police identified the driver and chemical that spilled onto the road which caused all lanes of the I-80/90 Indiana Toll Road to be closed after a crash in LaGrange County Thursday night.
Posted: Feb 5, 2021 11:43 AM
Updated: Feb 6, 2021 9:51 AM
Posted By: Jake Thomas
HOWE, Ind. (WFFT) -- Investigators say they have identified the driver of a semi-tractor trailer and the chemical he was hauling in his tanker, that spilled onto the road, after crashing Thursday night on the Indiana Toll Road causing delays for several hours.
Indiana State Police said at about 8:30 p.m. Thursday, 35-year-old Omar Pleasont of Portage was driving a 2020 Freightliner semi-tractor with a bulk liquid tanker eastbound on Interstate 80 near the 129.5 mile marker in LaGrange County.
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For an unknown reason, police say the Pleasont drove off the road and into the center median causing his semi and tanker to rollover.
PREVIOUS: Semi driver dead after chemical spill crash closes I-80/90 toll road in LaGrange County
After driving off the road, investigators reported that the overturned tanker came to rest in the median on I-80, with chemical leaking out, and the truck ended up on it's top in the right eastbound lane.
ISP says the hazardous material leaking from the tanker was identified as hydrochloric acid.
When police arrived at the crash scene to check on the driver, they said he was trapped inside the cab and was believed to be dead.
All lanes on I-80 were shut down for roughly two hours until crews were able to clean up the hydrochloric acid spill and the immediate area was evacuated.
After the cleanup was finished, ISP says they were able to get Pleasont extricated from the semi and he was declared dead at the scene.
I-80 reopened up for all lanes for traffic flow just after 3 a.m. Friday.
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