Concrete cargo shift causes wrecks

More than one tractor-trailer rig, with Jimmy T. Wood Trucking company of Memphis, Tenn., experienced issues with heavy, and shifting cargo May 19, resulting in separate incidents of blocked roadways locally.

South Fulton Police Chief Mitchell Maynard reported at approximately 9:30 a.m. on May 19, a semi overturned on the John C. Jones Parkway in South Fulton, at the exit near South Fulton High School. At that time, Chief Maynard said another semi, carrying the same cargo, a 100-foot concrete beam to be used in construction underway at the I-69 overpass on Hwy. 51, pulled over onto the shoulder of the four-lane.

Chief Maynard said it became apparent, the beam on the second semi appeared to be leaning, and he spoke with the driver about concerns that the period of time the rig remained stationary on the side of the road, with the beam leaning, could possibly bend the frame.

After Buddy’s Wrecker Service and Allen’s Wrecker Service were called to the scene for clean up, and law enforcement officers as well as emergency services workers and equipment remained on the scene to assist with directing traffic, especially during the period of time school dismissed that day, the upright semi proceeded on its way, Chief Maynard said.

The second similar incident involving the Jimmy T. Wood Trucking Company’s truck occurred outside the South Fulton City limits, and was worked by Tennessee Highway Patrol, Chief Maynard said.

That incident involved the beam shifting off the trailer and causing the truck to overturn, near the area of the exit onto the old Ken-Tenn Hwy., heading south, toward Union City.

Traffic was blocked until clean up could occur, on the southbound lane of the Hwy. 51 four-lane, from Fulton to Union City, for some time.

There were no injuries in either incident, Chief Maynard said.