Both lanes of I-69 southbound between the 301 and 299 reopen after semi removal

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) - The Allen County Sheriff's Department is investigating a semi crash on I-69 early Friday morning.

Just after 2 a.m., emergency personnel responded to the crash on northbound I-69 between the Jefferson Boulevard and Airport Expressway exits.

According to officers at the scene, the driver was heading north on I-69 when he crossed the median and southbound lanes of traffic. He went off the side of the southbound lanes and ended up in Robinson Creek.

Police said the driver told them he blew a tire. Police said the trailer was empty.

The driver sustained a minor cut to his forehead, according to police.

Crews weren't able to start to remove the truck from the creek until around 2:30 p.m. Both I-69 southbound lanes were closed for around an hour and a half while crews removed the truck. Police said I-69 reopened around 4:00 p.m. Friday.

Firefighters from the Southwest Fire Department installed a boom in the creek near the crash site to protect Robinson Creek from any fuel or oil leakage. Authorities did not believe anything was spilling into the creek.

Aboite Township firefighters also placed a boom on Little River near Homestead Road and Branning Road. Flowing west, Robinson Creek meets with Little River just east of Homestead Road.

The crash happened southwest of Eagle Marsh and poses no threat to the protected wetlands.

The cabin of the truck was stuck into the side of the creek bed, including one of the truck's diesel tanks. The trailer was bottomed-out on a crest of a hill near the creek. The rear-axle was no longer attached to the back of the truck.

No other vehicles were involved in the crash.