It wasn’t something you see every day on Interstate 75 in Tennessee, or any interstate for that matter.
A pickup truck hauling fireworks caught fire, launching explosives in every direction along the highway in Hamilton County.
All lanes of I-75 were temporarily shut down by the incident.
Fortunately, no injuries were reported, and all lanes reopened after highway crews cleared the debris.
According to the Tennessee Highway Patrol’s Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division (Motor Carrier Plus), the pickup truck, driven by Tennessee resident Dalton Beeler, was traveling from South Pittsburg, Tenn., to Knox County when the fire occurred.
A post-incident inspection revealed the following violations: no current hazardous materials registration, no emergency response information for first responders, no hazardous materials shipping papers, no placards identifying the hazardous cargo, and no USDOT number when required.
Additionally, law enforcement officials said the driver did not have the required hazardous materials endorsement.
The Tennessee Highway Patrol added that additional enforcement action, including federal penalties, will be determined by the appropriate regulatory authorities.
“This incident looked like a fireworks show, but it could have been much worse,” said Col. Matt Perry, commander of the Tennessee Highway Patrol. “Hazardous materials regulations exist to protect both the public and the first responders who rush toward danger when everyone else is moving away from it. The work performed by our Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division helps identify safety violations and reinforces the importance of compliance with federal and state transportation laws.”
UPDATE: The Tennessee Highway Patrol is investigating the fireworks trailer that caught fire on I-75 over the weekend after finding several violations.
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The Tri-Community Volunteer Fire Department, Chattanooga Fire Department, Catoosa County and Highway 58 fire departments responded to the incident.
“We appreciate the patience and cooperation of motorists who were affected by the closures and would like to thank all assisting agencies for their support,” the Tri-Community Volunteer Fire Department said on its Facebook page. LL
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