Jack-knifed Rig Hurts One in Lower Macungie

The passenger riding with a Louisiana trucker was injured Aug. 14 when the tractor-trailer jack-knifed after losing control on Route 309 in Lower Macungie Township, police said.

Bobby L. Buffington, 24, of Cedartown, Ga., was southbound in the right lane of Route 309 and rounding a curve near where it meets Interstate 78. The tractor portion lost control about 9:45 a.m. and began to spin onto the shoulder of the roadway, according to The trailer traveled 129 feet, jack-knifing the rig so that it blocked both southbound lanes of travel, police said.

Police did not report that any other vehicles were involved, but Buffington's passenger, Arius J. Leonard, 21, of Baton Rouge, La., received unspecified injuries, police said. He was transported to an area hospital by .

Southbound Route 309 was closed from Tilghman Street to eastbound I-78 for approximately an hour, police said.

Buffington was charged with driving too fast for conditions, police said. It was raining in the area prior to the accident.

South Whitehall Township police and assisted state police at the scene.