Semi driver tried to stop and avoid hitting tractor in crash that killed one
Update 09/29/16 2:45 pm: Investigators with the Madison County Sheriff’s Office say that the driver of a semi truck that hit a tractor on Highway 20 Wednesday tried to stop and swerved to miss the tractor.
According to investigators 56-year-old Victor Lopez started braking but couldn’t stop the semi in time to avoid the tractor. They say when he failed to stop he swerved to right of the tractor to avoid it but the semi’s trailer still clipped the farm vehicle. Investigators say that skid marks show evidence that the semi’s brakes likely locked up in the process of slowing.
The investigation of the crash is still ongoing and additional details will be released when they become available.
Update 5:18 pm: The name of the man who was killed in a crash on Highway 20 has been released. The Madison County Sheriff’s office says the tractor driver was 64-year-old Sam Davis.
Davis was flown by Air Idaho to Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center where he was pronounced dead from injuries sustained in the crash.
The driver of the semi-truck, 56-year-old Victor Lopez, was also injured in the crash. He was checked by EMS and then released.
The preliminary investigation of the crash shows that the semi-truck hit the Case tractor Davis was driving southbound on Highway 20 from behind. The investigation is still ongoing.
Update 2:25 pm: The driver of a tractor involved in a crash on Highway 20 has died from injuries sustained in the crash. The Madison County Sheriff’s office says the tractor operator was 64-years-old. The name of the driver has not been released at this time.
The sheriff’s office also confirmed that the driver of the semi-truck involved in the crash was also injured. They were taken by ambulance to Madison Memorial Hospital.
Traffic continues to be routed off of Southbound Highway 20 at the North Rexburg exit while the sheriff’s office completes their investigation.
Original story: The driver of a tractor was flown to the hospital after a crash on Highway 20 Wednesday.
At around 11 a.m. Wednesday the tractor and a semi-track crashed blocking traffic on the highway. The driver of the tractor was flown to the hospital with serious injuries. Traffic was diverted off the road at the off ramp where the crash occurred.
The Madison County Sheriff’s office is investigating the crash. They have no additional details to release at this time. The current condition of the tractor driver is not known.
