18-wheeler flips
by Alison James
alison.james@fct.wpengine.com
Woodchips spilled across the median of Highway 43 Tuesday morning as the Russellville Street Department and emergency personnel responded to the scene of a flipped 18-wheeler. The call came in shortly after 7 a.m. Authorities say it appears the truck was traveling north on Highway 43 when another vehicle, also traveling north, attempted to turn left, across from Brian’s Auto Sales. An evasive maneuver by the driver of the 18-wheeler resulted in the overturn. The driver was transported to the hospital with purported minor injuries; the driver of the second vehicle was rear-ended but uninjured. Fire Chief Joe Mansell said the street department had to remove more of the wood chips from the vehicle, which was out of Jasper, in order to be able to flip it back on its wheels and remove it from the roadway. Police Chief Chris Hargett said an Alabama State Trooper was first on the scene. As of 9 a.m. Tuesday, officials were still working the scene but hoped to have obstructions removed in short order.
