FORKS — The State Patrol has identified the driver of a semitruck that overturned with a propane tank south of Forks on Monday as James Allen Champion.
Champion, 62, of Yelm sustained minor injuries in the 7:43 p.m. crash on U.S. Highway 101 near Fuhrman Road, the State Patrol said.
Champion was not a patient at Forks Community Hospital, where he was transported after the crash, as of 4:35 p.m. Wednesday, a nursing supervisor said.
The incident forced a 22-hour closure of the highway and the evacuation of one residence as 10,000 gallons of propane was transferred to another tanker, troopers said.
Champion was traveling northbound when the truck and trailer he was driving left the roadway to the right and came to a rest on its side in a ditch near milepost 186, according to a State Patrol collision memo.
Workers deployed large airbags to right the overturned propane tank-trailer, troopers said.
A residence was evacuated by fire department personnel as a precaution.
There were no spills, said Trooper Chelsea Hodgson of the State Patrol.
Champion was wearing his seat belt at the time of the crash, which was caused by inattention, troopers said. The State Patrol said drugs or alcohol were not involved.
