Truck accident causes traffic delays

Traffic was still being delayed late this morning on I-84 due to an accident involving a tractor trailer rig that was traveling westbound near milepost 99 east of Mountain Home.

The accident occurred at about 7:30 a.m. Monday morning according to Elmore County Deputy Shaun Sterling, who investigated the crash, and determined that Calkins fell asleep while driving in the left lane of traffic and then drifted into the median. As the truck hit the soft shoulder, it flipped on its left side and skidded 585 feet before coming to a stop.

The 2005 Kenworth truck was hauling 30,000 lbs. of furniture for C & H Transport and a cost estimate of damages was not known yet.

The driver, Leslie L. Calkins, 60, of Gowen, Mich., who was traveling with his dog, received only minor injuries from the accident and did not require medical treatment. The dog also was uninjured.

Sterling said that no citations were issued in the accident.

The towing company and Idaho Transportation Department are continuing efforts to transport the truck and clean up the roadway.