Truck driver dies in I-69 rollover in Attica Township
A 34-year-old truck driver died Tuesday when his semi overturned, scattering large boulders across both sides of I-69.
The Lapeer County Sheriff’s Office identified him as Tyler Zellar of Flint. The crash happened at 9:46 a.m. Oct. 27, east of Lake Pleasant Road in Attica Township.
Investigators said his truck crossed from the right lane over the left lane and overturned in the grassy median. He died at the scene.
The trailer was carrying boulders loaded at a Lapeer job site for delivery to Columbus, Michigan. The rocks landed in the median and across the eastbound and westbound lanes. No motorists reported injuries or damage from the rocks.
Deputies arrived at 9:49 a.m. and found the overturned truck still running and leaking fuel. Attica Township firefighters and Imlay City Fire and Rescue responded to the leak.
Both directions of I-69 were closed, with traffic detoured via the Lake Pleasant Road ramps. The highway reopened around 3 p.m. after investigation and cleanup.
Investigators said impairment was not a contributing factor. The crash remains under investigation.
Michigan rules for containing a truck’s load
Under Michigan’s load-containment law, vehicles on public highways generally must be built or loaded to prevent their contents from escaping. Tailgates must be securely closed, and a vehicle cannot have holes or cracks through which material can escape. Proof that material actually spilled is not required to establish a violation.
For loads that aren’t completely enclosed, the law generally requires a firmly secured cover or binders strong enough to prevent the load from falling or shifting. A covering exception applies to items that won’t fall from a moving vehicle because of their weight and have their centers of gravity at least 6 inches below the top of the enclosure. That exception does not remove the general duty to contain the load.
Michigan Legal Center’s explanation of falling truck cargo claims in Michigan discusses how loading arrangements, cargo records and securement evidence can help identify who controlled a load when someone is injured.
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Michigan Legal Center: the Law Offices of Christopher J. Trainor & Associates handles truck accident and wrongful death claims.
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