VIDEO/PHOTOS: Indiana State Police is reminding drivers to safely secure their belongings after a loose mattress caused a semi fire on Interstate 65 in Greenwood Wednesday morning.
According to ISP Sgt. John Perrine, the mattress caused the semi to catch fire on I-65 near Main Street around 7:30 a.m. May 22, forcing rush-hour traffic down to one lane going southbound for several hours.
Nine Greenwood Fire Department units assisted in the incident.
According to Greenwood Fire Department Public Information Office Tyler Swardson, the semi was loaded with flattened cardboard from a cardboard supplier. When the semi went over the mattress, the mattress got kicked up into the wheel well area of the semi, with the friction from the tire movement and high heat from the brakes causing the mattress to catch fire.