Putnam County—This morning at 9:13, Indiana State Police Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Officer Master Trooper Kent Winstead stopped a white, 2005, Mitsubishi, refrigerated box delivery truck for a routine inspection on westbound Interstate 70 near the 37 mile marker.

During the inspection, the refrigerator unit of the truck was found not operating causing 60 dozen of eggs and 60 pounds of cream cheese to be at temperatures of 57 degrees, all above the State of Indiana food transportation safety limits. The Putnam County Health Department was contacted and assisted the ISP units at the scene. The eggs and cream cheese were confiscated and destroyed via a garbage disposal facility. The remaining non-perishable items of cooking oils and vegetables were not confiscated. Temperatures for eggs are required to be at 45 degrees or below and cream cheese 41 degrees or below.

The driver, Dong Xie, age 39, of San Gabriel, California was cited for Non English Speaking Driver and Operating a Vehicle Transporting Food, not in compliance with Health Department Rules for Food Transportation, both infraction violations. The driver was placed out of service. Arrangements for another driver are underway.

The load originated in Cincinnati, Ohio under the name of Eternal Trading Company and was bound for Asian style restaurant stops in Terre Haute and Attica, Indiana and Charleston and Danville, Illinois.

Indiana State Police Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Officers are issued Sixth Sense brand Infrared Thermometers, model LT 300, for checking food temperatures.

Assisting were Indiana State Police Master Trooper Matt Ames, ISP Sergeant Joe Watts, and Putnam County Health Department Investigator Darrell Brackney.

Questions concerning the Putnam County Health Department, please call their office at 765-658-2782.

Questions concerning the ISP investigation, please direct to ISP Sergeant Joe Watts.

Under the law, criminal charges are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.