38,000-Pound Banana Spill Closes Exit Ramp

A scene similar to the one that inspired Harry Chapin’s folk classic, “Thirty Thousand Pounds of Bananas” played out on a Michigan highway for several hours Sunday.

Michigan State Police told the Livingston Daily Press & Argus a trucker hauling 38,000 pounds of bananas lost control of his semi on the exit ramp from northbound U.S. Highway 23 to westbound Interstate 96 in Brighton Township.

Authorities revealed few other details of the crash about 11:30 a.m., other than to say “speed is considered to be a factor.” The ramp was closed until about 4 p.m.

Singer/songwriter Chapin’s classic ballad is based on a tragic March 1965 accident in which a trucker lost control of his rig near Lake Scranton, causing the truck to descend 500 feet and spill the cargo of 30,000 pounds of bananas after coming to a rest.

In that accident, the driver was killed and several vehicles were sideswiped as the rig tumbled out of control.