UPDATED — Tractor-trailer carrying excavator rolls over on state Highway 112 west of Port Angeles

Published 12:01 am Tuesday, July 29, 2014

JOYCE –– A tractor-trailer truck towing a large excavator rolled onto its side Monday afternoon on state Highway 112 at Milepost 38.5 about 24 miles west of Port Angeles.

The driver was not injured, but the crash closed Highway 112 on and off over six hours while the vehicles and excavator were uprighted by tow trucks, the State Patrol reported..

Troopers said Roger Hopie, 58, of Port Angeles was westbound in the 1986 Peterbilt tractor towing a 1974 Hyster Lowboy trailer at about 2:45 p.m. when he went into a ditch on the right side of the highway.

The excavator remained attached to the trailer.

The State Patrol blamed the accident on speed, and troopers cited Hopie for driving too fast.