Authorities in Decatur County responded to an individual laying on I-74 in the westbound lane near the 135 mile marker on Saturday at 1:30 a.m.
Before police arrived on the scene, a second 911 call was reported concerning that the male may have struck by a semi-tractor/trailer.
Officers located Joe Louis Zatarain, 60, of San Antonio, Texas conscious and alert. Witnesses stated that the individual was in the right lane next to his vehicle. The semi moved in to the left lane when the driver observed the vehicle on the side of the roadway, according to police.
Witnesses report that Zatarain then stood up and went to his vehicle and turned off the emergency flashers, and then returned to the travel lane.
Another semi saw the man and swerved to miss him. A portion of the trailer may have struck Zatarain.
“Mr. Zatarain told officers that he had been having several personal issues and was trying to commit suicide,” Decatur County Sheriff Greg Allen said.
He was transported to Decatur County Memorial Hospital and then transferred to Methodist Hospital due to injuries and for observation. According to police, Zatarain’s injuries are not life threatening.
The incident remains under investigation.
