JAY – Two empty tractor-trailer trucks traveling south on Route 4 collided Wednesday afternoon after one was attempting to pass the other and realized too late the lead truck was going to make a left turn into a private road.

Truck driver Harold Jewell, 59, of Litchfield was attempting to go by a rig driven by Albert Wheeldon, 67, of Des Moines, Iowa, and misjudged what Wheeldon was going to do, police Cpl. Jeffrey Fournier said.

Jewell’s rig skidded down the road as he attempted to avoid Wheeldon’s truck but was unable to, Fournier said, and Jewell’s tractor collided with Wheeldon’s box trailer.

No one was injured, he said. The accident happened between the Jay Transfer Station and North Jay.

Jewell was driving a 1998 Ford registered to RE Baker Inc. of Frankford and Wheeldon was driving a 2004 Peterbilt registered to Midwest Viking Inc. of Ankeny, Iowa.

The tractor Jewell was driving was heavily damaged, Fournier said, and the fuel tank was ruptured.

There was minimal damage to Wheeldon’s box unit and he was able to drive the truck, Fournier said.

Firefighters responded to help direct traffic and contain the fuel leak.

A stretch of Route 4 was shut down for several hours and traffic was rerouted up Old Jay Hill Road.