Dump truck runs through cable barriers on I-380

CEDAR RAPIDS - A dump truck crash south of Cedar Rapids shut down a portion of Interstate 380 on Tuesday.

The crash happened around 2:30 p.m. near the rest stop south of the Eastern Iowa Airport exit. Authorities say a front tire blew out, forcing the truck to veer off into a ditch, straight though the median cable barriers, and across I-380.

“It launched him up in the air, so he hit the cable high and it wasn't quiet able to hold him,” said Jim Porter, with the Cedar Rapids Fire Department.

Instead of the truck being stopped by cable barriers, it took the cable with it as it crossed into oncoming traffic. The cable wrapped around the truck, and stretched it out across the interstate. But luckily, that cable didn't break.

“The cables initially are under about 5,000 pounds of pressure, if they snap it will be just like an accordion string. It will damage everything in it's way,” said Porter. “With traffic this time of day, it was very lucky,” Porter said.

For a few hours after the crash, I-380 southbound traffic was diverted onto Wright Brothers Boulevard SW, Cedar Rapids Police Sgt. Cristy Hamblin said.

The dump truck was empty at the time of the crash. No injuries were reported.

[nggallery id=688]