Plywood flies off trailer on highway, causing multivehicle crash in Hopkins
A smattering of loose plywood caused a multivehicle wreck in Hopkins Wednesday.
The Hopkins Police Department said the incident occurred on northbound Highway 169 at Excelsior Boulevard. The plywood was apparently on a trailer, but came loose, scattering itself across the road.
The crash, involving multiple vehicles, resulted in a traffic back-up. Only minor injuries were reported. Photos show at least a dozen large sheets of plywood gathered on the highway.
It seems like every few months, authorities across the state issue warnings for unsecured loads — a term that describes any loose debris that falls from cars or trucks.
A flying truck part that smashed through a windshield, a wooden crate that caused a serious wreck, an ice chunk that fell off a truck and a piece of metal are among the recent incidents.
A 2016 report found that accidents caused by flying debris had increased by 40% over the previous 15 years. The results can be devastating; a report from AAA found such crashes cause hundreds of deaths and injuries every year.
