A semi-trailer truck crashed near the Interstate 80-L Street interchange Monday evening, critically injuring the driver and closing an access road off westbound I-80.
The driver — Lester Bowman, 48, of St. George, Utah — had been traveling west on I-80 with an empty trailer when the truck hit an L Street bridge support about 7 p.m. The semi landed on its side on the access road to the I, L, and Q Streets exits, under the L Street bridge.
Bowman was pinned inside the heavily damaged cab for about a half-hour.
He suffered a fractured pelvis and leg, and a head injury, Omaha Police Sgt. Doug Klein said. Bowman was taken by ambulance to Creighton University Medical Center. His injuries did not appear to be life-threatening, Klein said.
The impact tore the engine out of the truck, spilling a large amount of fuel. Hazardous materials crews from the Omaha Fire Department were called in for the cleanup.
The bridge was examined for possible structural damage.
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