Trucker ticketed in tollway crash

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Updated: March 11, 2012 8:49AM

LAKE FOREST — A truck driver was ticketed for a crash involving two semi-tractor trailers which blocked both sides of the Tri-State Tollway on Thursday morning near Route 60.

The accident began around 7:12 a.m. when two tires came off the truck in the southbound lanes driven by Patricia Galarza, 42, of Harvard. One tire flew over the retaining wall and another semi-tractor trailer traveling northbound swerved to avoid the tire and crashed into the retaining wall.

The trailer separated and it fell over the retaining wall where it was hit by a motorist in a Ford Mustang, said a State Police spokesman. The motorist was not injured.

The driver of the truck that lost control avoiding the tire was taken to Advocate Condell Medical center, Libertyville, for non-life threatening injuries.

Galarza was ticketed for federal safety violations. Traffic, backed up for miles in each direction, was able to resume at 9:50 a.m. and the accident was completely cleared by noon, State Police said.