A truck driver based in Gun Barrel City, Texas lost control of his rig and allegedly caused a truck accident up on I-80 in Iowa this past Wednesday. Such an accident is a fresh reminder of how dangerous large commercial vehicles can become if improperly operated. Fortunately, no one was seriously injured in the crash.

The trucker was proceeding westbound on I-80 through the heartland of America Wednesday morning when he lost control of his semi-truck. The police report indicates the Texan was proceeding west in the right lane at approximately 8:40 a.m. when he leaned down to grab a cup and struck a bridge guardrail, throwing the truck and trailer out of control.

Rescuers arrived at the scene of the accident not long after the truck came to a rest in a nearby ditch. The driver had to be extracted by rescue officials from his vehicle, and was taken in an ambulance to the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. Fortunately, he had been wearing his seatbelt and was not substantially injured in the truck accident.

Initially, the Texas truck driver reported he had hit a wet patch on the road that caused him to careen into the guard rail, but police found no water puddles or any potential environmental contributing factors. The driver later admitted to distracted driving after a survey of the road revealed skid marks indicating the truck had made an abrupt turn to the right.

State troopers report the truck had been hauling a shipment of eggs, many of which were strewn across the interstate during the accident. Traffic was delayed around the scene of the truck accident for approximately two hours Wednesday morning.

Sources: Daily Iowan "Semi filled with eggs crashes on I-80" 2/18/11