A load of plywood on a semi tractor-trailer began to smolder after the semi rolled over on the ramp from eastbound Interstate 80 to southbound Interstate 65 Thursday morning, police said.
The rollover forced the closure of the ramp for more than an hour.
According to Indiana State Police, at 8:15 a.m., the 2001 Freightliner was in the right lane of the ramp when the driver tried to change lanes.
Police said the driver, Harry Boone, 46, of Harvey, was traveling too fast into the curve, which caused the semi to roll onto its side.
The semi, which was hauling 40,000 pounds plywood in a rail container, slid against the concrete barrier wall for about 600 feet, police said. The friction caused the plywood to smoke and smolder.
Gary Fire Department crews hosed down the load to prevent any fire, police said.
Boone was extricated from the semi and transported to The Methodist Hospitals' Southlake campus in Merrillville for non-life-threatening injuries.
Police said Boone was cited for driving too fast to avoid a collision.
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