BENSON, N.C. — A tractor-trailer hauling garbage overturned Thursday afternoon on Interstate 40 East near Benson, spilling tons of trash and diesel fuel and blocking traffic for several hours, officials said.

According to JoCo Report and WRAL, the crash occurred shortly after 1 p.m. near mile marker 316 at the Sanders Road bridge in Johnston County. Troopers with the North Carolina State Highway Patrol said the semi was traveling east when its front tire blew out, causing the driver to lose control of the rig.

^{Photo credit: Johnston County Report by John Payne}

The truck veered off the left side of the highway into the median, struck the guardrail, and overturned, scattering garbage across the roadway and median. During the crash, the semi also sideswiped two concrete bridge support beams and destroyed a section of newly installed steel guardrail that had been put in just one day earlier.

^{Photo credit: Johnston County Report by John Payne}

Authorities said some diesel fuel leaked from the truck, prompting a hazardous materials cleanup. The debris and fuel spill forced both eastbound lanes to close temporarily, with traffic diverted onto the shoulder. The Department of Transportation responded to assist with the cleanup and inspected the bridge, confirming that the concrete support beams sustained no structural damage.

^{Photo credit: Johnston County Report by John Payne}

A WRAL viewer captured dashcam footage showing the truck crashing into the guardrail and overturning. Initial reports suggested another vehicle may have struck the truck and fled the scene, but troopers later rescinded that statement after further investigation.

^{Photo credit: Johnston County Report by John Payne}

The driver escaped without injuries, and no other vehicles were involved. State Highway Patrol confirmed that no charges will be filed in the incident.

Cleanup and recovery operations lasted several hours, with crews working to remove the overturned truck, clear debris, and repair the damaged guardrail. The scene was fully cleared and reopened later in the day.

📸 Image(s) used under fair use for news reporting.