Large, over-sided load causes over-sized traffic snarl in busy rush hour
JACKSON, Tenn.-A traffic nightmare along Interstate 40, right in the middle of rush hour, Friday afternoon.
The on and off ramps at Exit 82 in north Jackson were blocked for more than 2 hours. And what caused the backup, well you just have to see it to believe it.
“I looked up and I saw all the wreckers out here and all the commotion and I told my grandson man that’s a mess up there,” said Donald Tucker, who was one of many drivers stuck in traffic.
The monstrosity blocked Exit 82 to and from North Highland for more than 2 hours.
“It really got traffic backed up and it took lots of time to get this situation corrected,”said Tucker.
The semi and its oversized load, got stuck after troopers said the driver took the wrong exit. And this exit ramp cannot handle trucks as large as the one the caused the traffic snarl.
“Trying to bring it up this narrow strip here, was unusual too because you can tell from the highway that this area here is not wide enough to bring a container that large through here,” said Tucker
But what exactly was on that truck?
“I thought at first when i saw it there was a mobile home that had jack knifed,” Tucker said.
It is a home of some sort. Officials said it was a house boat, and after a little help back up the ramp, it was back to smooth-sailing on the open road.
“It could have been a major catastrophe had they not got this cleared up quickly, because of the rush hour traffic, plus all the people traveling on a Friday afternoon,” said Tucker.
One of the wreckers helping also got stuck, blocking the on-ramp for a time, however eventually both were freed.
The THP said there were no injuries in the wreck and they had both exits back open just before 6 p.m., Friday.
