Overturned tractor-trailer spills tons of trash, blocks I-575 for hours
A tractor-trailer hauling garbage to a landfill overturned on I-575 in Cherokee County on Thursday morning, spilling thousands of pounds of trash and shutting down the interstate for five hours.
The truck overturned on I-575 North at Hickory Flat Highway about 3:30 a.m., just three exits away from its destination, Channel 2 Action News reported.
Cleanup continues on 575 NB near Canton after trash truck tipped. But both lanes now open @WSBTraffic #ATLTraffic pic.twitter.com/4uAn5EB4mA
— Steve Gehlbach (@SteveGWSB) November 8, 2018
The highway reopened about 8 a.m., but trash cleanup continued for several more hours. Crews first pushed the piles of trash from the 80,000-pound rig into the median, then worked to tow it away load by load, said Frank Ray with Mauldin Body Shop and Towing.
“We just took the equipment, raked it off to the side so we could get the road clear as quickly as possible,” Ray told Channel 2.
Authorities told Channel 2 that the driver took a curve too fast, causing the truck to flip.
80,000+ pounds of garbage ended up on I-575...be thankful there’s no smell-a-tweets pic.twitter.com/QghYG1IIQL
— Steve Gehlbach (@SteveGWSB) November 8, 2018
The Traffic Center suggested drivers take Ga. 5 during the shutdown, which caused several hours of backups starting at Sixes Road.
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