Banana-Hauling 18-Wheeler Overturns on U.S. 75 in Plano, Driver Arrested for DWI

Iverri Johnson, 37, was arrested on suspicion of DWI early Sunday after his Audi allegedly cut off a banana-hauling 18-wheeler on northbound U.S. 75 near the Legacy Drive exit in Plano, sending the semi careening off the highway and onto its side, crates of fruit spilling across the service road.

Plano Police Department and Plano Fire-Rescue arrived around 2:50 a.m. on March 15 to find the tractor-trailer overturned on the service road, its load scattered across the pavement. According to a Plano Police Department press release, Johnson changed lanes in front of the semi, causing the driver to overcorrect and leave the highway onto the service road, where the truck struck a pole supporting an overhead sign and overturned.

Officer Jerry Minton described the sequence in sharper detail. "It was an Audi vehicle that swerved over to catch the exit, and he cut off the 18-wheeler and collided with the front of the truck," Minton said. "The truck then turned to the right to try to avoid the collision and when he corrected back to the left, he was already off the highway and dumped over on its side."

The semi driver sustained minor injuries, according to Minton. No other injuries were reported.

The northbound U.S. 75 service road from Spring Creek Parkway to Legacy Drive and the Legacy exit ramp remained closed for several hours overnight while crews worked to clear both the overturned truck and the spilled banana load from the roadway. The crash also damaged a pole supporting an overhead highway sign.

Johnson was released on bond following his arrest. The Plano Police Department has not publicly disclosed the bond amount or a court date.