712 Digital Group - top

Cattle truck accident in Council Bluffs happened when driver fell asleep

News

October 30th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

An accident in Council Bluffs late Monday night that sent two people to the hospital and resulted in cattle running loose, happened when the driver of a semi fell asleep at the wheel. According to the Omaha World-Herald, 24-year old Bradlee Ellis, of Hutchinson, KS, told Council Bluffs Police he was awakened by his passenger just before the 1994 Peterbilt went out of control and overturned on southbound Interstate 29, at around 11-p.m., Monday.

Ellis, and his passenger, 20-year old Emileigh Martens, also of Hutchinson, were injured in the crash. The pair were said to be in fair condition Tuesday, at Creighton University Medical Center. More than a dozen cattle were left roaming in the area following the crash. Some of the animals died, when the semi slid into the I-29 overpass at Avenue G and bounced off, causing the top of the trailer to be torn off.

The interstate was blocked for more than 6-hours following the crash.