WIND GUST CAUSES MISHAP ON I-55

A gust of wind blew a section of a mobile home across Insterstate 55 south of Sikeston Thursday, authorities said.

The section of a mobile home, which was being transported by truck, landed on its top.

No one was injured in the mishap, which occurred at 3 p.m. Thursday, eight miles south of Sikeston.

The truck, carrying half of a double-wide mobile home, was traveling north when a gust of wind blew the structure across the median, landing on the southbound lanes.

Patrolman Brenda Cone, who worked the mishap for the Missouri Highway Patrol, said no one was traveling on the southbound lanes at the time the mobile home landed there.

"When it blew off the truck it skidded on its side across the northbound lanes and the median and landed on its top," she said. "I've never in my life worked anything like it."

The driver of the truck was Ricky Garrison of Double Springs, Ala.

Cone said no negligence was found on the driver's part to cause the mishap and that wind pressure had apparently built up inside the mobile home, one side of which was open.

Traffic was blocked on both southbound lanes for about 30-40 minutes, Cone said.

Rain was reported in the area at the time of the mishap, she said, adding that the driver told police he was preparing to exit the interstate because of growing winds.

Cone said the mobile home was furnished and that it sustained only structural damage. A glass-top table that was inside the structure was not broken, she said.

"It was one of those things that's really just a freak of nature," she said. "Fortunately, no one was hurt."