Truck suffers blowout on Dolly Parton bridge, dumps load

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) - Alabama Marine Police reported a flatbed truck overturned on the General W. K. Wilson Junior Bridge and spilled 45,000 pounds of metal into the water Sunday.

The accident happened shortly before 11:00 a.m. and closed one lane of traffic at one point. According to Alabama State Troopers, the driver of the flatbed refused treatment.

Troopers say the tractor-trailer had a front tire blow out causing the driver to hit a barrier. After impact with the barrier, 11 pieces of sheet metal fell into the river. Marine police were called in to scour the river for debris.

"We're going to make sure there's no navigational hazard," said Wade Fail with the Marine Police.

Marine police said most of the metal settled in about five feet of water.

"Our patrol vessels have bottom scan sonar and we use that to find it," Fail said, "It's going to be around 45,000 pounds."

Marine Police boats searched along cement pylons underneath the I-65 lanes above.

"It's actually in the water in between I-65, north and southbound lanes, in between Middle River and Mifflin Lake," said Fail,"We found one piece that was actually sticking up a foot or two out of the water."

Fail said the Coast Guard will ensure the responsible party cleans up the mess.