CLAYTON, N.C. (WNCN) — A tractor-trailer carrying a full load of vodka flipped on its side in Clayton Thursday morning at the intersection of Shotwell Road and U.S. Route 70, causing major delays, according to the Clayton Fire Department.
The fire department posted a photo on their Facebook page of the tractor-trailer flipped on its side next to a power pole. According to the post, Shotwell Road is blocked at Executive Drive.
A passerby was able to help the driver get out of the truck, the department said. The driver was OK following the crash.
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Firefighters responding to the scene were quickly able to contain an oil spill, according to the post.
The Clayton Police Department tweeted that a special wrecker is on the scene to tip the tractor-trailer right side up.
Delays in the area of Shotwell Road are expected to last into the morning rush hour. U.S. 70 is flowing, except for a section of U.S. 70 west where one lane is open, the rest had to be closed off to allow the wrecker on scene, officials said.
Police said the truck was carrying 17 pallets of vodka that weigh 40,000 pounds. Multiple tow trucks had to respond to the scene after the wrecker was unable to turn the truck over on its own.
Emergency responders have shut down Shotwell Road from U.S. 70 all the way down to Old U.S. Highway 70. While crews try to upright the trailer. Town officials said the cab has been flipped, but had to be disconnected from the trailer because the vodka weighed too much to upright. The metal trailer became twisted and contorted due to the effort to upright it, officials said. The vodka will have to be off-loaded box by box before the trailer can be flipped. Many of the bottles shattered during the crash, officials said.
