Shayne Skougard, 32, from North Las Vegas, Nevada, has been identified as the semi-truck driver who was hauling an oversized load that struck the Jefferson overpass on Interstate 17 in Phoenix on October 4.
With the help of the public, the Department of Public Safety (DPS) was able to piece together the series of events leading up to the crash inot the overpass. Several witnesses, after hearing media reports that the driver had fled the scene, contacted DPS and were able to give a detailed description of the truck and its driver.
The crash investigator was able to track down Skougard with the help of those witnesses and the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT). Skougard’s company was required to apply for a permit through ADOT to haul the oversized load through the state.
The crash damaged five of the bridge’s girders above the southbound lanes of I-17.
ADOT is in the process of developing repair plans and will work with an on-call contractor to determine the cost of restoring the damaged girders.
Skougard was cited for violating the oversize permit restrictions, causing the crash and hit-and-run. Skougard faces severe fines, jail time and the suspension of his commercial drivers’ license if he is found guilty. As with similar incidents involving damage to freeway infrastructure, ADOT anticipates filing a claim with the company’s insurance carrier in order to recover repair costs.