(Spirit Lake)– A freak accident involving a semi pulling two flatbed trailers carrying a large piece of earth moving equipment blocked both westbound lanes of Highway 9 in front of the KUOO studios Sunday.
Spirit Lake police say 58-year-old Robert Martin of Blind Bay, British Columbia, Canada was driving a 2003 Freightliner that was pulling the large flatbed trailers and was attempting to negotiate a curve when the steering went out on the rear trailer. The trailers and oversized load they were carrying jackknifed across both lanes, damaging some pavement and the median.
No injuries were reported.
$2,000 in damage was estimated to the rig and trailers, owned by Mullen Trucking of Aldersyde Alberta, Canada.
Damage to the highway and shoulder was also put at $2,000.
Police say the semi had a gross vehicle weight rating of 85 tons.
The incident took place shortly before 8:00 a.m.
