Two Semis Collide; Block Interstate Wednesday Night

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Published on October 2 2014 7:33 am
Last Updated on October 2 2014 7:33 am
Written by Greg Sapp

Two semis collided on I-70 in Cumberland County Wednesday night and one shut down the interstate for a time.

The collision occurred at 7:36pm in the westbound lanes about six miles east of Montrose. State police report one rig driven by 51-year-old Stephen Phelps of Marlette, Michigan, was traveling at a higher rate of speed than a truck driven by 43-year-old Tony Smith of Newcastle, Delaware and Phelps' semi rear-ended Smith's rig.

The impact sent Phelps' semi off the roadway where it struck a guardrail and then down an embankment where it struck a tree. Smith's rig ended stalled across the westbound lanes and the roadway was closed for about two hours until the semi could be removed.

Phelps and Smith and a passenger in Phelps' rig, 47-year-old Laurence Blanchard of Marlette, Michigan, were all injured and were taken to St. Anthony's Memorial Hospital in Effingham, but Phelps was later transferred to Carle Hospital in Urbana for additional treatment.

Phelps was cited for failure to reduce speed to avoid the crash and following too closely.