ROWAN COUNTY — A semi-truck carrying explosives overturned Tuesday afternoon in Rowan County, and officials at about 3:20 p.m. issued a shelter-in-place order for residents out of an abundance of caution.
North Carolina State Highway Patrol said the crash happened at the 1300 block of High Rock Road east of Rockwell.
The single-vehicle collision involved an Orica explosives truck carrying ammonium nitrate, according to NCSHP.
Troopers said the truck was traveling east on High Rock Road when it ran off the right side of the road and then over-corrected. It then crossed the center, ran off the left side of the road and overturned.
The Rockwell Rural Fire Department shut down the road in response.
NCSHP responded to the scene alongside Orica employees who assisted in cleanup. The company removed blasting agents, lowering the explosion risk and cleaned up a small amount of oxidizer that had leaked from the truck, according to troopers.
No other property damage has been sustained and the driver did not sustain any injuries. Investigators said they have not determined speed to be a factor in the crash.
Troopers said the road was reopened and the shelter-in-place was lifted after about two hours.
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