By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
The state patrol says a semi-truck driver had fallen asleep before he lost control of his rig last night on Interstate 5 north of Centralia.
The 2006 Freightliner didn’t hit any other vehicles but struck the concrete jersey barrier on the shoulder side of the northbound lanes and stopped with its front passenger tire atop the barrier, according to authorities.
It happened about 11:45 p.m. in the construction zone about a mile shy of the Lewis-Thurston county line, according to the Washington State Patrol.
The driver, Randal D. Stone, 50, of Salem, Ore. was taken to Providence Centralia Hospital as a precaution with sore muscles, according to the patrol and responders from Riverside Fire Authority.
Fire crews were on the scene about two hours, according to Riverside Fire Authority Capt. Tim Adolphsen said. The wreck included a diesel spill and traffic was rerouted off at Harrison and onto old Highway 99 while the lanes were closed, Adolphsen said.
The investigating trooper described the semi as totaled and noted Stone would be cited for second-degree negligent driving
Tags: By Sharyn L. Decker, news reporter