Updated: SR 45 closed for over six hours after semi accident

SR 45 CLOSED FOR SIX HOURS: State Road 45 in eastern Greene County was closed for over six hours early Thursday while crews worked to upright and tow a semi-truck on its side and clean up leaked diesel fuel and a cargo of lime that was spilled. (Photo courtesy of Greene County Sheriff's Department)

A semi-truck hauling a load of lime was the only vehicle involved but the lime was spilled along with diesel fuel and the truck ended up on its side in the roadway forcing closure of the road.

The accident occurred on SR 45 south of County Road 75S at 6 a.m.

EARLY MORNING ACCIDENT: Personnel from several departments responded to a pre-dawn accident involving a semi on it's side in eastern Greene County. The driver was treated on the scene and released but a passenger was transported to Bloomington Hospital. (Photo courtesy of Greene County Sheriff's Department) [Click to enlarge]

Greene County Sheriff's Deputy Aaron Smith said the highway had to be closed and crews had been working on the scene throughout the morning.

Around 12:30 p.m., Smith said the highway was still closed but the clean-up was close to complete and he expected the highway would reopen to traffic early in the afternoon.

Smith reported the driver, Terry L. Genet, 42, of Leopold, Ind., was southbound on the highway in a 1995 Ford Aeromax that was pulling a 1996 Ravens trailer owned by J & K Transportation Inc. of Jasper, Ind.

The driver was treated and released on the scene and escaped serious injury.

A passenger in the truck, 80-year-old Julius Genet, was treated on the scene by personnel from the Greene County Ambulance Service then transported to Bloomington Hospital with chest pain.

According to the accident report, Terry Genet said his passenger side tires went off the west side of the road then the truck headed off the roadway and started down an embankment.

The vehicle then rolled onto the passenger side, slid and struck several mailboxes before it came to a rest off the west edge of the highway.

The deputy reported approximately 50 or more gallons of diesel fuel leaked from the tractor and the all of the cargo spilled out.

Smith said Bland's Wrecker Service of Bloomington was called to the scene to tow the tractor-trailer and a HazMat (Hazardous Materials) clean-up began with assistance from Slater Excavating, also from Bloomington.

Others who responded to assist on the scene included personnel from the Center Township Fire Department, Smithville Telephone Company, Eastern Heights Water, Midwest Gas and REMC.