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Last updated on Wednesday, December 2, 2015
(BROWNTOWN) - U.S. East 50 was closed for hours after the drivers of two tractor-trailers collided on U.S. 50 nine miles west of Brownstown.
Police say both drivers escaped serious injury.
The wreck left the highway closed for most of the day as emergency crews cleaned up debris and worked to remove both trucks, which were not drivable.
The wreck also led to a second property-damage accident involving a car and truck.
Sheriff Michael Carothers says the first wreck happened when 47-year-old Scott Pelfrey of Warsaw, who was driving west on U.S. 50, drove his semitrailer across some oil on the road.
That caused Pelfrey to lose control of his semitrailer, which jackknifed and crossed the centerline into the path of an eastbound semitrailer driven by 48-year-old Scott Simkins of Orleans. Simkins was driving a truck for Singer and Sons Transport LLC of Norman.
Pelfrey's semitrailer continued along the side of Simkins' semitrailer before going off the south side of the road, down a hill and into an embankment.
Pelfrey's foot was trapped beneath the clutch pedal in his truck.
Sheriff Carothers says it took rescue crews about 45 minutes to free Pelfrey from the wreckage. Firefighters had to use a sawzall to cut the clutch pedal off to free his foot.
Pelfrey was treated at the scene by personnel with Jackson County Emergency Medical Services and taken to Schneck Medical Center in Seymour for additional treatment. He eventually was transferred to an Indianapolis hospital.
It was initially thought Pelfrey was transporting hazardous chemicals, but police were able to determine he was transporting soap to a car wash in the Bedford area.
Simkins suffered some cuts and abrasions but refused treatment.
The second wreck involved a Chevrolet Blazer driven by 77-year-old Betty Hume of Medora. Hume was slowing down for the first wreck when her vehicle was hit by a truck driven by 58-year-old Leland Wayt.
Neither Hume nor Wayt were hurt in that wreck.
Firefighters from Owen-Salt Creek Carr townships and Brownstown and Seymour fire departments responded to the initial wreck, reported at 10:16 a.m. Tuesday. 31 Wrecker also was called to the scene and brought a crane to help remove the semitrailers from the scene.
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