Video of semi-trailer truck on its side and uprighted by tow trucks.
A semi-trailer truck rollover at Northwest Highway (Route 14) and South Hicks Road and the Metra Northwest Line in Palatine caused train delays and blocked Northwest Highway in both directions for about four hours Monday morning. The accident occurred about 10:30 a.m. when a semi-trailer truck carrying large steel coils was turning left from northwestbound Northwest Highway to southbound South Hicks Road. Apparently the steel coils shifted inside the trailer and caused a weight shift. The truck landed on its right side blocking all three Union Pacific railroad tracks.
A Union Pacific worker using an tractor emptied the contents of the semi-trailer onto another semi-trailer that was parked on Northwest Highway. When the accident truck was emptied it was dragged by tow trucks on its right side to clear the truck off of the Union Pacific railway. Then the truck was uprighted by strapping attached to two tow trucks. A-Express Towing & Recovery managed the towing operations. Palatine Fire Department stood by for fire and rescue operations.
The truck driver was not injured. The railroad tracks were not damaged. The truck was slightly damaged. Rail traffic was allowed to pass through about 2:30 p.m. Northwest Highway was also re-opened at about 2:30 p.m. Arlington Heights police blocked westbound Northwest Highway at Wilke Road at the request of Palatine Police Department.
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