A 33-year-old Cumberland County man was injured when his 2009 Volvo tractor with dual trailers left the highway and went down an embankment 5:36 p.m. Sept. 3 on I-78, Weisenberg Township.

State Police Troop M, Fogelsville, say Matthew R. Clapper of Carlisle was eastbound in the right lane of I-78 when the tractor trailer left the right side of the road.

Police say the right side of the big rig struck the guard rail before traveling approximately 360 feet on the guard rail.

The truck continued and went down an embankment on the south side of I-78, police say.

Clapper, who was wearing his seat belt, was extricated by firefighters.

He was transported by Cetronia Ambulance Corps to Lehigh Valley Hospital, Salisbury Township, for suspected minor injuries.

Police say Clapper told them he fell asleep at the wheel.

Weisenberg Fire Chief Brian Carl commented about the crash in an email to The Press.

“The tractor and first trailer rested on the driver’s side. The second trailer rested upside down,” Carl said.

“Crews accessed the scene from I-78 down the steep embankment and from Old 22 through thick brush.”

Carl said portable equipment and ropes were used to free the trapped driver from the truck and contain the diesel fuel leak.

He said in addition to the injured driver, two firefighters who suffered heat-related injuries were also transported to the hospital.

The eastbound lanes were closed for a couple hours, Carl stated.

The big rig was removed and towed from the scene by Hauser’s Truck Services.

Police say Clapper will be charged with several summary traffic offenses as a result of this crash.

Pennsylvania State Police Troop L, Hamburg, and Weisenberg, Kutztown, New Tripoli, Germansville and Virginville fire departments assisted at the scene.