Semi tanker flips in southern indiana

POSEYVILLE, Ind. (WTHI) - Monday morning at approximately 9:00, Indiana State Police and Posey County Sheriff’s Department responded to an overturned tanker on S.R. 165 north of Poseyville near Mulkey Road.

Preliminary investigation revealed John O. Schmitt, 59, of Poseyville, was driving a 2006 Freightliner tractor and pulling a tanker full of fuel northbound S.R. 165 north of I-64. 

Schmitt was transporting fuel for Country Mark.  For unknown reasons, the tractor and trailer left the roadway on the east side near Mulkey Road, struck a utility pole and overturned. 

The vehicle came to a final rest on its top and the tanker spilled fuel onto the roadway and into a nearby ditch.  

Trooper Matt Jacobs and three Samaritans cut the driver’s seat belt and pulled him from the tractor before EMS arrived.  

Schmitt was transported to Deaconess Hospital in Evansville where he is being treated for a non-life threatening head injury.

As of 2:30 p.m., S.R. 165 remains closed while crews clean up the site and remove the tractor and tanker. Nearby residents were not evacuated.

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