The driver of a truck that spilled hay bales at the Shelbyville exit (No. 59) on the U.S.-131 expressway Tuesday will face charges of seeking charges of having an unsecured load and failing to report the incident. The Allegan County Sheriff’s Department has indicated it will seek charges against the driver after hay bales fell off around 5:30 p.m. Tuesday in Wayland Township,causing closure for cleanup of a lane for several hours.
Authorities said though the driver left the scene he was identified from evidence that fell off the truck. The driver’s name and age have not been released yet.
The Michigan Department of Transportation is inspecting the 124th Avenue bridge to determine if it was struck and if there was any damage.
Allegan County Sheriff’s Lt. Brandon Berens said, the damage is believed to be superficial.
Expressway overpasses in northern Allegan County and southern Kent County have been struck several times in recent years. In November, a semi-truck carrying heavy machinery struck the bridge at the 146th Avenue overpass in Dorr Township while it was closed for repairs after being previously hit by another semi in August.
And the 100th Street bridge over US-131 in Byron Township was replaced in 2020 after being hit 13 times by trucks.
