Tanker truck becomes stuck under railroad bridge, causes three

A tanker truck struck a railroad bridge, causing the truck to immediately stop and shift left, resulting in a three-vehicle crash that shut down Route 45 near Libertyville.

The Grayslake Fire Protection District, Libertyville Fire Department and Lake County Sheriff’s Office responded around 1:15 p.m. Wednesday to Route 45 and Route 137 in unincorporated Libertyville for a vehicle crash.

Lake County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Chief Christopher Covelli said deputies arrived to find a truck that struck the Metra bridge railroad crossing.

A preliminary investigation shows a truck with a flatbed trailer, which had a steel tank on it, was traveling northbound on Route 45.

The height of the truck and trailer with its load was 13 feet and six inches tall.

Covelli said the truck approached the bridge just before Route 137 and struck the bottom of the overpass, which is 13 feet and 11 inches tall.

The impact caused the truck to immediately stop and shift left.

A northbound Chevrolet Equinox struck the truck when it shifted left, Covelli said.

A third vehicle, a Subaru Impreza, then struck the Chevrolet.

Covelli said the truck should have cleared the bridge based on the height measurements.

“It is possible the truck struck the curb, causing it to raise its height, then striking the bridge, but that remains a theory at this point,” Covelli said.

One person was initially reported to be complaining of a minor injury but all occupants of the vehicles declined transport to the hospital.

Lake County sheriff’s crash investigators responded to the scene and continue to investigate.

Inspectors also responded to the scene to evaluate the Metra bridge.

Route 45 has since been reopened after Ernie’s Wrecker Service removed the stuck trailer from the bridge.