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UPDATE: ASP says I-40 is open, traffic is flowing

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faulkner county, I-40, traffic

Updated: 9/26/2012 9:16 am

Published: 9/25/2012 2:14 pm

Update: According to David Niles with the Arkansas State Police, the I-40 westbound near Lake Conway is open and traffic is flowing.

FAULKNER COUNTY, AR - The interstate was down to one lane all of Tuesday after a semi-truck crashed into the lake near mile marker 131.

During the 5pm rush hour, traffic was backed all the way up to the I-430 interchange, about 16 miles away from the accident. By 10:30pm, the situation only improved marginally, traffic was at a standstill for 8 miles.

By Tuesday night the truck was extricated from the lake, but still needed to be pulled up the embankment and removed from the road.

"It's been a long day," said driver Mack Hayden. "A long day."

Hayden is happy to reach a break at a gas station just past the chaos. He was stuck in traffic for almost two hours as crews worked to remove the truck.

"At times, completely stopped and other times just barely coasting. It's been a long time getting to right here."

FAULKNER COUNTY, AR – A recovery effort along the I-40 near Lake Conway in Faulkner County has slowed traffic, affording to the Arkansas State Police.

According to a release, on September 24, a commercial truck and trailer traveling westbound at the 131.5 mile maker crashed through the guard rail, coming to rest in Lake Conway. The truck driver, 78-year-old Timothy Ward of Alabama was treated for minor injuries.

Throughout Tuesday afternoon, all westbound traffic will be routed into a single lane on I-40 while work continues to remove the wreckage. Around 5pm, traffic was backed up to the I-430 interchange, about 16 miles away from the crash scene.

Troopers are discouraging trucks with wide loads from traveling through the area and other motorists may want to consider choosing an alternate route. Work is expected to continue into the early rush hour period.

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The views expressed here do not necessarily represent those of FOX16 - Breaking News and Weather to Plan Your Day for Little Rock and Central Arkansas

wpsark - 9/26/2012 10:46 AM

1 Vote

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78 year olds should not be able to driver those big trucks!!! WTF

Butch54 - 9/26/2012 7:06 AM

0 Votes

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Chris2 Butch says there is oil and fuel in the lake. Gold creek landing is shut down closing the way to the big crappie. I couldn't put in my boat. Trucks parked on boat ramp bearing the letters BP. Lake roped off on both sides of the freeway. The guy said they would be cleaning this morning. To bad for me.

ricky wages - 9/26/2012 3:22 AM

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would rather see a 78 year old driver than the ones that are turned loose on the roads after only 4 weeks of training from the c d l schools not to forget the rich old retired people that buy r v,s as big as a greyhound bus an drive it across the u s a with no training at all that never drove any thing bigger than a Lincoln town car now that's dangers

chris2emily - 9/26/2012 12:25 AM

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@Sailor no one said anything about oil and fuel in the lake

charliebrown - 9/25/2012 10:38 PM

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well seems to me that the interstate system was made for commerical and millitary cargo....so all o you that think trucks needs to take different roads why don't you since those concrete highways was made for trucks...you need to read history and find out why they was made to sart with....and they pay a hell of a lot of taxes just to be on them...and just to mention cars cause most of the accidnts on the roads...when i used to drive cars would try to push and squeeze into places and now i ride a bike guess what they still try to push and squeeze me off the road...and if most of you was to take your driveing test again you would fail..

arkyny - 9/25/2012 9:19 PM

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Damn trucks, they should only travel at night, and slow the f--- down. I deal with them every morning at the 7 to 8am hours. There needs to be an alternate route so they can wreak amongst themselves!

protector20 - 9/25/2012 7:28 PM

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Perhaps it is time for Mr. Ward to try and requalify for his CDL?????

Butch54 - 9/25/2012 7:27 PM

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Messed up the best fishing in the lake.

pat72209 - 9/25/2012 7:25 PM

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Oh heck....IT WAS YESTERDAY. EXCUSE MY ERROR OF SAYING SEPTEMBER 20

pat72209 - 9/25/2012 7:24 PM

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WHAT???? SEPTEMBER 20??? This is the 25th. Well I am a 74 year old woman and I would love to make a few more rounds coast to coast..I drove a BIG truck for 15 yrs. by myself. Never had a single accident. It gets in your blood. Driving is what I do....walking not so much hahahah

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