Semi falls off I-55 bridge in Plainfield blocking train tracks

The driver of a semitrailer truck was taken to a Joliet hospital with injuries that were not life threatening after the semi rolled off the Interstate 55 bridge Sunday in Plainfield.

At 9:59 a.m. Sunday, the Plainfield Fire Protection District received a call that a semitruck traveling north on Interstate 55 just north of Route 30 had left the highway, according to a news release from the Plainfield Fire Protection District.

Upon arriving at the scene, Plainfield firefighters found the truck, which was carrying chicken broth and disinfectant wipes, had rolled off the I-55 bridge and onto the railroad tracks below, Plainfield Fire Protection District Chief Vito Bonomo said.

“Somehow, someway – I know another vehicle was in the accident but we didn’t get the lowdown [yet] on things – the semi veered off the road just before the bridge where the train tracks go under,“ Bonomo said. ”He went off the road, down the embankment and then rolled his semi onto the train tracks."

Plainfield firefighters tended to the driver, who was out of the vehicle when they arrived, Bonomo said.

The driver was taken to Ascension Saint Joseph-Joliet hospital with injuries that were not life-threatening, he said.

The driver of a another vehicle involved in the accident refused treatment or transportation to the hospital by the paramedics, Bonomo said.

Plainfield firefighters also contained a small diesel fuel spill, he said.

“To add to this event, the tow truck driver stepped out of his vehicle and went into cardiac arrest,” Bonomo said. “So our members saved the life of two drivers.”

Will County Sheriff Deputy Chief Dan Jungles said deputies were assisting the Illinois State Police on the scene for the semi accident when a local tow company arrived for vehicle removal, so Deputy Mike Janovyak blocked a lane for the tow truck.

As the tow driver was loading a damaged vehicle onto the tow truck, Janovyak saw the tow truck driver lying on the ground and promptly contacted the Laraway Communications Center for an ambulance, Jungles said.

“It was unknown at the time if the tow truck driver was stuck by a vehicle, or if he was having a medical emergency,” he said.

Janovyak began administering cardiopulmonary resuscitation while Deputy Joe Kuzma, who was also assisting on traffic control, heard the radio transmission and brought an automated external defibrillator, Jungles said.

“The AED was deployed, and one shock was administered while deputies continued CPR,” he said.

Members of the Plainfield Fire Protection District also assisted.

“Our members ran up the hill, bringing their equipment with them,” Bonomo said.

Plainfield Fire transported the tow truck driver to UChicago Medicine AdventHealth Bolingbrook, he said.

“Once the tow driver arrived at the hospital, he was awake and alert,” Jungles said. “Sheriff Mike Kelley would like to commend Deputy Janovyak and Deputy Kuzma with their quick response, and life-saving actions this morning. What a great job done by both.”

Interstate 55 was shut down temporarily to clean up the broth and disinfectant wipes debris, Bonomo said.

Train traffic is expected to be closed for an extended period of time until the semitruck is removed from the tracks, he said.

The Troy Fire Protection District, Illinois State Police, Will County Sheriff and CN Railroad assist the Plainfield Fire Protection District, according to the release.