Jack-knifed tractor trailer damages busy uptown ramp

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Crews were working to clear a busy road near uptown after a tractor trailer crash early Friday morning.

Emergency crews said the tractor trailer jack-knifed around 6 a.m. on the inbound Independence Blvd. ramp to the Brookshire Freeway.

Nobody was hurt in the crash but crews had to close the ramp for several hours while they tried to remove the big rig.

Gregory Scott, driving a Ryder rental truck, said that he had just gotten onto Interstate 277/East Brookshire Freeway from Independence Boulevard.

He told officials an unknown small sedan went past at a high rate of speed and then cut directly in front of because of the lane ending.

Scott said he applied his brakes, and combined with the wet road surface, caused the trailer to come around to the left and jack knife.

He then struck the concrete bridge facing and railing before reaching its final position.

The tractor trailer was towed away before 9 a.m. but the ramp was still shut down as crews clean up spilled fuel from the big rig. Officials said roughly 100 gallons of diesel fuel spilled from the tractor trailer, and flowed all over the road, down the sides of the bridge and into the grass.

Members of Carolina Emergency Response Team (CERT) are assessing the environmental impact and crews will be on scene until at least 2 p.m.

Officials also said the barrier rail to the bridge ramp was damaged and the interstate maintenance contractor was assessing it to determine the scope and timeframe for the repair. In the meantime, crews were placing temporary barrier walls up on the bridge.

Once the bridge is reopened, lane closures may be required for crews to complete repairs.

Drivers have been forced to take detours for hours and one driver told Channel 9 he's concerned about the closure.

"After the report came out that so many of the bridges in North Carolina are damaged and not safe, then you've got another damaged bridge? That concerns me, yea," said Brett Jensen.

Check back with wsoctv.com for updates on this story.

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