Accident - Oct. 25, 2024

A Tingley man was injured Thursday when the semi he was driving rolled and caught on fire.

According to a Union County report, at approximately 4:40 p.m. a 2001 International tractor-trailer, driven by Mark J. Becker, 55, of Tingley, was northbound on Redwood Avenue, south of 220th Street, when Becker lost control of the semi and entered the east ditch. The semi rolled and at some point, caught on fire. Before deputies arrived on scene it was reported Becker was out of the semi and had been pulled away from the burning vehicle.

When deputies arrived, the fire, which had spread from the semi approximately nine yards in front of it, had been extinguished. Medics and firefighters were attending to Becker in a pile of corn just east of the semi. Medics told law enforcement Becker was believed to have a head or neck injury and burns to his lower legs. Medics performed a needle decompression on scene. Becker was transported by LifeFlight Air Ambulance to Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines for medical treatment. His condition is unknown.

Firefighters on scene stated they assumed the fire sparked in the grass due to the muffler of the semi being hot. The fire then traveled up into the semi.

The owner of the semi, David Cheers, told deputies Becker was driving for him hauling corn they had just loaded. Cheers stated Becker probably did not have a driver’s license but he still allowed him to drive the semi. Cheers told deputies he believed Becker had been ejected during the accident and a passerby pulled him away from the fire, but deputies were unable to confirm the information.

According to deputies, citations for operating a motor vehicle without a valid license and failure to maintain control of a vehicle will be issued to Becker and a citation for permitting an unauthorized person to drive a motor vehicle will be issued to Cheers.

Damage to the semi was estimated at $10,000.