I-40 reopens after truck wreck

An accident involving an 18-wheeler has shut down part of Interstate 40 on Tuesday afternoon, officials said.
An accident involving an 18-wheeler has shut down part of Interstate 40 on Tuesday afternoon, officials said.

UPDATE:

Part of Interstate 40 that had been closed after an 18-wheeler wreck is back open.

The Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department said after 6:30 p.m. that the highway was cleared.

The Arkansas Online live traffic map showed slow conditions remained in the area after 8 p.m.

EARLIER:

An accident involving an 18-wheeler has shut down part of Interstate 40 on Tuesday afternoon, officials said.

State police reported that I-40 eastbound was closed at mile marker 154, the Lakewood exit, near the Interstate 30 interchange. Lanes were expected to remain closed for at least another two hours.

The tractor-tailer, carrying fencing material including barbed wire, hit a bridge support on I-40 at the Interstate 30/40 merge at 3:38 p.m., according to a spokesman from the North Little Rock Fire Department.

At the point of impact, the cab separated from the trailer, traveled a number of feet and came to a rest in eastbound lanes of I-40, the spokesman said.

It was not immediately clear how many feet the cab traveled before stopping.

Two vehicles traveling by the tractor-trailer — an SUV and a car — were part of the debris that flew after the impact of the crash.

The driver, who was cut out of the cab, was injured and taken to the hospital, according to state police, the fire department said.

Authorities on scene said no other injuries were reported.

Check back with Arkansas Online for updates on this developing story.

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