ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — A stretch of Interstate 40 in Western North Carolina was closed early Thursday after an overturned tractor-trailer spilled milk and impacted a nearby waterway, officials said.
The crash occurred near mile marker 92.5 at the McDowell-Burke county line, prompting officials to shut down westbound lanes at Exit 94 near Dysartsville Road, according to emergency management reports.
The truck, which was hauling milk, overturned shortly before 5 a.m. Thursday. Emergency crews from McDowell and Burke counties responded and were working to contain the spill, which officials said was affecting Muddy Creek.
Authorities warned of significant traffic disruptions in the area and urged westbound drivers on I-40 to seek alternate routes. The closure was expected to have a high impact on traffic.
Officials estimated the roadway could remain closed until around noon, though no official reopening time had been confirmed as of Thursday morning.
No additional details, including whether there were injuries, were immediately available.