Truck dumps 50,000 pounds of potatoes on I-77 in Charlotte, closing highway

Interstate 77 southbound is closed at the Morehead Street exit after a tractor-trailer wrecked and spilled 50,000 pounds of potatoes.

The truck wrecked and overturned near the John Belk Freeway, I-277, exit 9. Fuel also spilled onto the interstate.

The highway is not expected to reopen until about noon, according to the state Department of Transportation. One lane, however, reopened shortly before 8 a.m.

Take Exit 11 (I-277) as an alternate and follow I-277 to Exit 1-B to re-access I-77 South. Farther north, take the Sunset Road exit to Beatties Ford Road or take any exit to N.C. 115 South.

The truck hit the barrier wall about 2 a.m. after the driver fell asleep, the station reported. The driver was hospitalized with non-life threatening injuries.

Police placed flares near the Morehead Street exit to make drivers turn onto that exit.

At 6:45 a.m., a separate wreck was blocking the right lane of I-77 southbound near LaSalle Street, exit 12. The wreck was cleared shortly before 7:30 a.m. but backups remained.

This story was originally published May 6, 2016 at 8:13 AM.