State Road 64 closed for two hours for jackknifed trailer

An empty dump trailer jackknifed on State Road 64 near Mentor closing the highway down for over two hours.

According to the Dubois County Sheriff’s Department, Ronald S. Pulliam, 62, of Mt. Carmel, Ill., was eastbound on State Road 64 in a 2015 Western Star 4700SF pulling an empty dump trailer when the 8:15 accident occurred. Pulliam told police he was west of Schnell Road when he encountered a small to midsize white passenger car driving the towards him in his lane.

Pulliam veered right to avoid the passenger car and he went off the south side of the road striking the end of a guardrail. The tractor-trailer continued east until it struck a tree head-on. The impact caused the trailer to jackknife across the state road blocking both lanes of traffic.

Pulliam was treated at the scene by Memorial Hospital Emergency Medical Services for an abrasion to his right hand.

Indiana State Police assisted at the scene by diverting traffic. The Schnellville Volunteer Fire Department assisted with the clean-up of the roadway.

A Ruxer Ford tow truck removed the tractor-trailer. It was considered a total loss.

The road was closed for about 2 hours and 15 minutes and reopened at 10:30 a.m.