DANVILLE – A section of East Main Street (U.S. 136) will remain closed until further notice following a Wednesday accident in which a tractor trailer hit a railroad overpass.

Danville Public Works officials are asking motorists to use a detour route to avoid the closure. The route is Oregon Avenue to Fairchild Street to Michigan Avenue to Voorhees Street to Lynch Spur.

Local traffic may use Williams and California streets to reach their homes or businesses along Brewer Road.

The closure is necessary so that CSX railroad officials can repair the overpass.

Public works officials said they hope the road can be opened early next week. However, the closure could be extended if weather conditions or other problems delay the completion of the repairs.

The structure was damaged when a roll-off trash-bin rack on the back of the truck hit the overpass Wednesday afternoon. The truck was owned by Mervis Industries and driven by Jeffrey R. Spicer, 41, of Danville.

According to a Danville police report, Spicer was driving west on Main Street toward the Brewer Road intersection when the truck struck the wall of the overpass, which is just east of the intersection. Spicer told police he had just dropped off a load at Danville Metal at 266 Lynch Dr. and was on his way back to Mervis Industries' main yard at 2313 E. Cannon St.

Spicer said he did not see that the lift was in an upright or unloading position until it hit the bridge.

A witness told police he saw the truck heading toward the bridge, but that it could not stop in time to avoid hitting the structure.

Spicer's seat belt did not have a cross strap, and he said the impact caused his chest to hit the steering wheel. He requested an ambulance and was taken to Provena United Samaritans Medical Center, where he was treated and released on Wednesday.

The report said trusses were moved six inches and displaced from their anchor. It also said various truss parts and the railroad track were bent.

The accident also ripped the radiator off of the truck and caused hydraulic fluid and other debris to spill into the road.

No tickets were issued at the time of the accident, but the report said they could be pending further review.