CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- A major commuter route in northeast Charlotte reopened to traffic late Tuesday night after a tanker accident closed the road for 12 hours.

Crews uprighted the tanker truck about nine p.m. and an hour later reopened all lanes of University City Boulevard at I-485.

The truck's cargo of nitric acid was pumped into a second vehicle.

Charlotte firefighters said the truck overturned on University City Boulevard after getting off of Interstate 485.

An off-duty Charlotte firefighter pulled the driver out to safety, and he was not badly hurt. The truck landed on its side on the shoulder, and was not leaking any of the chemical.

Residents of Helton Park Apartments on University City were blocked in by fire hoses. They could only leave their homes on foot, because firefighters had to run hoses to the complex for their water supply.

Erika Hedgepeth says the property manager was calling everyone to explain the situation.

"My office staff called and said you have 30 minutes to get out or you're going to be stuck here four to six hours," she said.

Fire Captain Rob Brisley says because there was no leak, they did not evacuate anybody. He said the road had to remain closed until hazardous materials teams could be sure all the material in the overturned tanker could be transferred to another tanker.

Visit our traffic page for alternate routes.