Overturned tractor trailer hauling cotton blocks traffic on Midlands highway, cops say
A collision blocked traffic for nearly five hours on a major highway in Richland County, causing delays for drivers on the morning commute.
All of the westbound lanes on Interstate 26 were blocked because of the crash that occurred at about 5:30 a.m., the South Carolina Department of Transportation said on Twitter.
The wreck involved an overturned tractor trailer, said Master Trooper David Jones of the South Carolina Highway Patrol.
The collision occurred close to the 108 mile marker, which is near the Bush River Road exit, as well as the junction with I-126 and U.S. 76. That is near the area referred to as Malfunction Junction.
Traffic was at a near standstill in the westbound lanes and backed up for miles, SCDOT cameras showed.
A detour was been set up, diverting traffic to the Bush River Road exit and rerouting it back on to I-26 beyond the crash, Jones tweeted.
Part of the issue on the highway were the contents of the truck that spilled and were in the road. The 18-wheeler was carrying bales of cotton, and the large rolls were being removed, Jones said.
The road “is expected to remain blocked throughout the morning,” Jones tweeted.
It was about 10 a.m. when the road had been completely cleared, all lanes were reopened and traffic flowed smoothly again.
The truck driver was taken to an area hospital, the Columbia Fire Department said on Twitter.
Further information on his condition was not available.
No other injuries were reported in the wreck, according to the South Carolina Department of Public Safety.
Information on what caused the tractor trailer to crash, and the number of vehicles involved, was not available.
This is a developing story, check back for updates.
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This story was originally published November 6, 2019 at 7:08 AM with the headline "Overturned tractor trailer hauling cotton blocks traffic on Midlands highway, cops say."
