An overturned 18-wheeler, caused traffic trouble for several hours on Wednesday morning, along a stretch of Highway 35 near Blanche.
Just prior to 4:30am, Broomtown Fire & Rescue was dispatched to a report of an accident in which an 18 wheeler ran off of the roadway, on the Gaylesville side of Blanche; they arrived to find that the trailer of the Freightliner had rolled over onto its side – lifting the cab off the ground, into tree limbs.
The driver, identified as 55 year old Roger Lawson of Florence, South Carolina, was trapped inside the rig but fortunately, was not hurt.
Both he and his dog were removed by emergency personnel soon thereafter.
Traffic flow was primarily affected only by a need for motorists to slow down – and exercise caution – during the cleanup operation, only being shut down for a few moments when that big rig was actually being up righted and removed from the scene shortly after noon.
The trailer was fully loaded, reportedly with a cargo of cooking oil.
The cause of the accident remains under investigation by Alabama State Troopers.
Photos provided in part by Charlie Fagan
