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Tractor-trailer hits median wall, spills thousands of batteries on I-77

By Mark Barber
By Mark Barber

YORK COUNTY, S.C. — A tractor-trailer hit a concrete median in the southbound lanes of Interstate 77 early Wednesday morning, spilling thousands of batteries across the highway near Gold Hill Road in Fort Mill.

Officials said the impact with the median wall was so violent that it sheared off the side of the trailer, spilling 3,000 to 4,000 AA batteries.

[PHOTOS: Tractor-trailer spills thousands of batteries across I-77]

The batteries were scattered across the interstate in both directions, backing up traffic for miles.

The debris from the median damaged three cars.

WATCH LIVE | An overturned tractor-trailer spilled thousands of batteries onto I-77. Traffic is backed up for miles near Gold Hill Road in Fort Mill.

Posted by Mark Barber WSOC on Wednesday, September 20, 2017

Frustrated drivers who were late to work begged others to be more cautious.

"I don't know much about that trucking life, but I would say be more careful and drive carefully when you know it could affect a lot more people than what you have with you," Buned Wadhwani said.

By the time Channel 9 got a camera close to the wreck, most of the batteries were cleared from the interstate and packed in brown boxes.

There was no immediate word on any injuries or what caused the crash.

Drivers who crawled past thousands of the double-A batteries said this was just the latest danger on the road.

"I broke my bumper the other day because there was something spilled in the road," Wadhwani said.

Channel 9 has been tracking all the unusual spills that have happened on interstates in the Charlotte area for a year or so.

The bizarre list includes everything from pig guts to potatoes.

Bewildered drivers have also had to avoid paint, groceries and even bees.

"As long as the transporters keep their loads secure, we're all in good shape,” driver Les Woods said.

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