On Monday morning, a semi truck crash in Saluda had traffic backed up on I-26. According to WLOS ABC News Channel 13, the incident happened sometime before 7:30 a.m. in the westbound lanes of I-26, near exit 59. The truck involved in the wreck was hauling liquid sugar at the time. Reportedly, the truck came around a turn, went off of the roadway and then the driver overcorrected. This caused the load of liquid sugar to shift, which then resulted in the vehicle overturning.

Tractor Trailer Wreck in Saluda

WLOS ABC News Channel 13 also reports that the truck slid for several hundred feet on its side before coming to rest. There was no word on whether or not any of the liquid sugar spilled onto the roadway or surrounding area, but an additional truck was called in to offload the liquid from the vehicle. Thankfully, no other cars or trucks were involved in this truck crash, and the driver didn’t suffer from any major injuries. Crews didn’t have all available lanes open on I-26 until about 2:30 p.m.

Shifting Loads and Unsecured Cargo

Commercial vehicles can weigh up to 80,000 pounds. When you’re hauling tens of thousands of pounds of cargo, you can’t expect your vehicle to perform like a lighter passenger occupant vehicle. Due simply to the basic laws of physics, truck drivers need to maneuver their tractor trailers safely and appropriately. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), the government agency tasked with regulating the commercial trucking industry, has a wide variety of regulations and guidelines for proper loading and securing of cargo too. Unsecured cargo can shift during travel and pose a huge risk of potentially catastrophic wrecks.

Truck Accidents in Asheville

Truck accidents can be devastating for drivers and passengers in lighter passenger occupant vehicles. It can take weeks, months or longer to recover from injuries and get back to your normal life. A personal injury attorney who has truck accident case experience can help you put your life back together.

If you have been injured or if you have lost a loved one in a truck accident in Asheville or any of the surrounding Western North Carolina communities, contact the skilled and proven team at Davis Law Group, P.A. at 888-773-8388 for a free case consultation.