REELSBORO, N.C.- All is well this afternoon after a tanker carrying close to 3000 gallons of propane overturned this morning.
It happened on highway 55 near bayboro around 9 A.M.
The accident closed the highway for nearly five hours.
Volunteer fire fighter, Chris Mackey was on his way to class when he saw the eastern propane truck turn over.
"I immediately put my car in park, turned on my emergency lights and went over to him. kicked out the windshield, got him out safe."
According to state troopers, the propane truck swerved to avoid hitting a car turning into a driveway. When the driver overcorrected, the propane shifted and caused the truck to tip over and slide moer than 100 feet on its side before coming to a halt.
While no propane was leaking from the truck after it overturned, emergency crews evacuated homes along the highway just to be on the safe side.
Highway 55 was re-opened around 1:30 this afternoon, shortly after emergency crews emptied the propane truck and removed it from the road.
Reelsboro Assistant Fire Chief, James Atkins says the accident turned out as well as anyone could have hoped.
"the driver wasn't significantly injured. there were no injuries from the people in the neighborhood. of course we had no fire, so it was a very good turn out, considering."
The driver of the propane truck has been identified as James Simmons of New Bern. He was treated and released from Carolina East Medical Center this afternoon. State troopers say Simmons will be charged with an unsafe movement violation.
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REELSBORO, N.C. - NC Highway 55 is back open after an overturned LP gas truck shut down traffic earlier today.
The NC Highway Patrol says around 9 a.m. a propane tanker from Eastern Propane out of Bayboro overturned just east of Olympia Road.
The driver, James Simmons of New Bern was taken to Carolina East Medical Center in New Bern for treatment and later released.
There were no leaks detected from the truck and Highway 55 was closed to east and west bound traffic until the truck could be unloaded and set upright.
The highway opened to all lanes of traffic around 1:30 p.m.
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