Tippecanoe County- Yesterday at approximately 2:20 p.m, a truck hauling food products was stopped on I-65 southbound near the 173 mile marker for a traffic violation and was found to have the refrigerator unit not in working order.

Trooper Ashley Kelly of the Indiana State Police Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division (CVED) stopped a white 2008 Sterling straight truck with an enclosed refrigerated box container.  When Trooper Kelly walked up to the truck, she noticed the driver Christian Ibarez, 29 years old from Chicago, IL was extremely hot inside the truck.  His air conditioner unit inside the truck was not working and she also noticed the refrigerator unit on the truck was not functioning properly.

Trooper Kelly, with assistance from Master Trooper Roger Dickison also of CVED, escorted the truck back to the parking lot of the Indiana State Police Post at Lafayette where they met David Drinan of the Tippecanoe County Health Department to inspect the load.  When they opened the container they found raw meat and vegetables above the allowable temperatures and also cross contamination with the spoiled foods.  A decision was made to destroy the contaminated boxes of meat and other foods.  Total amount destroyed was 1,540 pounds.

The truck was in route to make deliveries in the Lafayette, West Lafayette, Indianapolis, and Greenfield area restaurants.  The driver was cited for Federal Motor Carrier Violations and released.

All suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.