Tractor-trailer loses load after brake failure in Caldwell County

CALDWELL COUNTY, N.C. — The debris from a lost load from a tractor-trailer with brake failure hit several cars Thursday on Highway 321 North near Blowing Rock, troopers said.

The crash happened around 10 a.m. in Caldwell County.

You can see where truck lost its load after brakes went out. Several cars hit. There are injuries. pic.twitter.com/OfRkEcEYBm
— Dave Faherty (@FahertyWSOC9) July 14, 2016

The driver was without brakes for 8 miles, troopers said. He lost thousands of pounds of sidiing.

"I lost the rakes and right now, I'm happy to be here," driver Alan White said.

Trucks are only supposed to go 35 mph down the steep four lane highway but White was going much faster than that after losing his brakes.

"I didn't have no alternative but to get out of people's way. Helpless feeling? It was very helpless,” White said.

The big rig crossed the centerline into oncoming traffic where one car was stuck and another hit by the siding coming off the truck.

The truck slammed into a guardrail sending the big rigs load all over the roadway but kept going for another two miles.

Mike Fields who was heading in the opposite direction only had a second to keep from being hit.

"Nothing much I could do, so I covered my face and rolled over to the side so if anything came through the windshield it wouldn't hit my face,” he said.

None of the drivers were seriously injured but one was taken to the hospital to be checked out.

White is thankful he and the other drivers are alive.

"I was praying the whole time, praying the whole time. And I thank God that I'm able to be here to talk about it,” he said.

The Highway Patrol said that White should have pulled over when he first recognized problems with the brakes. He is charged with failure to secure his load and driving left of center.

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