An early Christmas miracle in Lone Star

Lucky to be alive is an understatement with regard to an afternoon accident that occurred near United States Steel on Dec. 23. A Christmas miracle would more adequately describe the scene, as an 18-wheeler hung over the bridge as the driver was lifted to safety on a soggy day before Christmas Eve. At approximately 3 p.m., Morris County dispatchers called Lone Star Police and Fire Department to a onevehicle wreck on the Lone Star Lake Bridge, just south of United States Steel. Upon arrival, emergency crews found the trailer of a semi rig hanging over the bridge.

From evidence at the scene, it appeared the rig was traveling southbound on Highway 259 when it hydroplaned, hitting the bridge in multiple locations before ultimately going over. With pieces of what appeared to be the cab scattered on the marshy lake below, attention quickly turned to rescuing the driver and returning him to the bridge, where he could be checked by EMS.

Upon investigation, it was determined that the driver was unharmed, although the cab of the vehicle appeared to be destroyed. Fire crews from Lone Star and Ore City joined forces to pull the driver from the wreckage. With roads slick from the rain, oils and grease from the accident made it extra treacherous as crews lowered a fireman to the driver, who was then strapped into the harness and pulled to safety. The driver was escorted to the waiting ambulance, where he was checked and then transported to a local hospital for precaution.

Although crews had the driver removed from the scene in less than an hour, due to its location, coupled with the weather, it was after nightfall before the wreckage was completely cleared, and the northbound lanes were re-opened.