ARCHDALE, N.C. — Police say a tractor-trailer hauling dynamite overturned Monday morning on I-85 in Randolph County, leading officials to evacuate an elementary school.
According to WGHP-TV in Winston-Salem, authorities say the tractor-trailer crashed shortly after 6:45 a.m. in the northbound lanes of the interstate at Mile Marker 111 near Main Street / U.S. Highway 311 in High Point.
The driver of the truck was flown to Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center. His condition is unknown at this time.
A Randolph County Schools spokeswoman said Trindale Elementary School is being evacuated at the request of authorities. The students are being taken to Archdale Elementary School, the spokeswoman said.
Authorities initially diverted traffic from both directions of the interstate onto Main Street. A DOT spokesperson said the closure is being expanded due to heavy traffic conditions.
Southbound drivers are being redirected at Exit 118 onto Business 85 South in Guilford County. Northbound drivers are being sent onto U.S. 64 at Exit 96 in Davidson County, and then north onto Business 85.
The Orica USA Inc. truck was carrying an ammonium nitrate slurry and blasting caps. As of 11 a.m., all of the elements inside the truck are “stable” and all ignition sources have been eliminated.
A crew is scheduled to arrive from Charlotte around noon. Workers will begin separating the blasting caps from the ammonium nitrate. Once this is done, crews will be able to reopen the road to traffic.
DOT officials said I-85 northbound is expected to reopen by 6 p.m.
Officials are recommending buildings and homes within one-half mile of the intersection of Archdale Road and I-85 also be evacuated.
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