I-77 closed for hours after overturned truck spills chemical near uptown

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Hazmat crews worked all day Thursday to clean up a chemical spill on Interstate 77 after a commercial truck overturned near uptown.

The accident happened around 11 a.m. on I-77 southbound near Morehead Street.

Troopers said the truck was heading south on the interstate carrying liquid magnesium nitrate when part of its suspension broke causing the driver to lose control. He ran off the right side of the road, hit a guardrail and overturned, causing the chemical to spill on the roadway.

A hazmat crew was called in to clean up the chemical, which is commonly used to kill lawn weeds.

Chopper 9 Skyzoom flew over the crash and could see several first responder crews working to clean up the spill and clear the road.

The truck driver who works for a local company was seriously hurt, but is in stable condition, troopers said.

Channel 9 learned the driver was headed to Westinghouse Boulevard to drop off the chemical before the crash.

All southbound lanes of I-77 were closed near Exit 11, which is the ramp to I-277/Brookshire Freeway.

The interstate was expected to reopen around 3 p.m., but troopers said it didn’t open until late Thursday night.

Check back with wsoctv.com for updates.

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