Semitrailer crash outside Pittsburgh dumps more than seven tons of hot dog filler onto highway

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15,000 pounds of meat on the highway?

A semitractor-trailer that crashed last week outside Pittsburgh spilled seven tons of hot dog filler and caused a traffic backup on Interstate 70.

The driver, Lachaud Makendy, 30, and a passenger, Robert Gilles, 42, both of Laurel, Delaware, suffered minor injuries but refused medical treatment, Pennsylvania State Police trooper Tyler Martier said in an incident report.

At about 6:40 p.m. on May 20 in Rostraver Township, the semitrailer was "traveling at high rate of speed," and the driver lost control and went onto the shoulder of the highway, police said.

The trailer hit several trees, and "due to the violent stopping motion" of the truck, about 15,000 pounds of hot dog filler that was being transported spilled onto the roadway.

The highway was reduced to one lane until about 11:30 p.m. while first responders cleared the debris, TribLive.com reported.

An investigation found that multiple brakes on the vehicle were "completely inoperable, resulting in a total loss of stopping power," police said.

Police will issue "numerous" citations against Makendy, the report said.

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