Driver airlifted after semi crash

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A wreck involving a semitrailer loaded with 40,000 pounds of drywall Tuesday afternoon on U.S. 50 west of Brownstown created traffic issues for motorists for seven hours.

The wreck also led to the driver of the truck, Leonard Dwaine Riddle Jr., 35, of Princeton, being treated and taken to Schneck Medical Center in Seymour after he complained of chest, head and leg pain. He was later flown to Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis.

The traffic problems were related to the closure of one lane of the road as the drywall was cleaned up and the semitrailer was removed from the field where it overturned.

Riddle told police he was driving east on U.S. 50 towards Brownstown when he glanced down briefly, according to a news release from Jackson County Officer Dustin Steward.

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Riddle said when he looked up, he tried to correct the truck’s path but overcorrected, causing the truck to leave the road, roll down an embankment and overturn.

The top portion of the cab was torn open, and most of the drywall was thrown from the trailer after the wreck, reported at 2:44 p.m.

Riddle was treated by personnel with Jackson County Emergency Medical Services before being taken to Schneck.

Steward was assisted by county Sgt. Stan Darlage and Officer Jeff Walters and personnel with Brownstown Volunteer Fire Department and the Indiana Department of Transportation.

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