Oil Truck Overturns on 85

Traffic was diverted for several hours on I-85 Friday evening after an oil truck overturned.

N.C. Highway Patrol Trooper J.L. Singlevitch said it was too early to know exactly why the truck ran off the road, near Exit 4, shortly before 7 p.m. but he said the driver did not suffer life-threatening injuries.

Members of the Cleveland County Hazardous Materials Team were seen opening bags of oil absorbent and pouring the contents onto the side of the road.

I wasn't allowed close to the wreck but Singlevitch, while waiting for a wrecker to tow the truck, said a ditch on the other side of the road was full to the brim of gasoline which had poured out of the Culp Petroleum truck.

I-85 was closed off at Exit 2 but residual traffic continued to go past in a single lane until about 7:45 p.m. Traffic was bumper to bumper as diverted vehicles made their way towards NC 161.

Kings Mountain Police, Bethlehem Volunteer Fire Department and N.C. Highway Patrol assisted at the scene while the Grover Volunteer Fire Department helped divert traffic at various exits.