Trailer hauling watermelons rolls over on I-65 ramp

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A truckload of watermelons overturned on the I-65 northbound ramp to I-80/94 on Tuesday morning in Gary, Ind. / Photo courtesty Indiana State Police

Updated: July 19, 2011 12:49PM

(GARY, Ind.) A truck hauling 40,000 pounds of watermelons rolled over, but did not spill its load, on an I-65 ramp in northwest Indiana on Tuesday morning after a motorist cut the truck off then braked suddenly.

At about 9:30 a.m., a 2001 Freightliner semi with box-trailer was on the I-65 northbound ramp to westbound I-80/94 in the middle lane when a passenger car cut the semi off and then braked, the truck’s driver, Michael Kangas Jr., told Indiana State Police.

Police said Kangas was coming into the curve too fast and his load of watermelons was also not properly secured when he then braked. This caused the load to shift and the semi to roll onto to its passenger side, a release from state police said.

The 40,000 pounds of watermelon the semi was hauling for Exel Transfer and Storage of Green Bay, Wis., were contained inside the trailer. The load originated in Georgia and was headed to Morris.

Kangas, 37, of Jordon, Minn., suffered minor injuries, as did his passenger, Julia M. Hall, 40, of Tampa, Fla., but both refused medical treatment, according to the release.

The right and middle lanes of the I-65 northbound to I-80/94 westbound ramp will be closed for bout six hours for off-loading of watermelons and removal of the trailer, state police said.

Kangas was cited for driving too fast to avoid a collision and hauling an insecure load.