BUCHANAN COUNTY – A Northern Iowa man escaped a fiery semi crash after falling asleep behind the wheel of the rig.
On Tuesday, December 21, 2021 at approximately 4:25 am, the Buchanan County Sheriff’s Office received several 911 reports of a motor vehicle accident on southbound I380 near mile marker 51. According to the investigation, a 2016 Volvo semi tractor-trailer operated by Ryan Thieman, 49, of Marble Rock, IA, was traveling southbound on I380 near mile marker 51 when Thieman fell asleep and lost control of the semi. The semi struck the inside guardrail of a bridge over Lime Creek, causing significant damage to the semi. Leaking fuel ignited a fire, causing the semi and trailer to become fully engulfed as well as the median between the northbound and southbound lanes. Thieman was able to exit the semi and was not injured in the crash. Southbound I380 was shut down between mile markers 49 and 55 from approximately 4:30 am to 9:00 am to allow for emergency crews to extinguish the fire, clean up fluids and clear the roadway of debris.
Thieman was subsequently cited for Failure to Maintain Control.
The Buchanan County Sheriff’s Office was assisted at the scene by the Iowa State Patrol, Iowa Commercial Motor Vehicle Enforcement, Iowa Department of Transportation, Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Linn County Sheriff’s Office, Jesup Police Department, Brandon Fire Department, Jesup Fire Department, Gilbertville Fire Department and Urbana Fire Department.
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