Overnight Truck Fire Snarls Traffic On I-77 In Huntersville

HUNTERSVILLE, NC — An 18-wheeler hauling plastic containers overturned and caught fire on Interstate 77 Wednesday night, snarling traffic for hours as Huntersville firefighters battled to contain the blaze.

Firefighters from Huntersville’s Station 1 responded to the fiery accident just south of Gilead Road around midnight, according to Huntersville Fire. The accident occured when the tractor trailer hit a barricade and overturned, according to reports. Four hours later, fire crews from surrounding areas, such as Davidson and Mt. Mourne, joined HFD.

The accident severed traffic along the northbound lanes of I-77 for hours, which remained closed while firefighters offloaded the trailer by hand. The roadside debris then had to be cleaned up and new guardrails and barrier walls replaced, Huntersville Fire said around 2 a.m.

“Once we extinguished the tractor, we had to move to the trailer and and extinguish that, then off load it. This is the reason for the extended closure,” HFD said.

WATCH: Huntersville Fire Responds To I-77 Truck Fire

By 4 a.m., one lane was reopened, with both lanes opened by 5:30 a.m., WSOC reported.

Subscribe to Huntersville Patch's free email news alerts and newsletters

Photos courtesy of Huntersville Fire Department