Rutherford County Sheriff: Tractor Trailer Accident US-74 HWY

Rutherford County -- March 20, 2024: Rutherford County Sheriff's Office Media Release: Tractor Trailer Wreck US-74 HWY  

On 3/15/2024 the Rutherford County 911 Communications Center received multiple calls beginning at 05:17 am stating that a transfer truck ran off the roadway on US-74 Hwy – westbound near the Old Caroleen Rd. exit. Sandy Mush Fire Department units arrived on-scene and confirmed that a transfer truck had driven down the embankment and came to rest in the Second Broad River.

 The Rutherford County Emergency Management Response Team – Swift-water unit was requested to the scene to assist with removing the driver from the transfer truck. The driver was safely removed from the wreckage and transferred into the care of Rutherford County EMS. The patient was transported to Atrium Health Cleveland with non-life-threatening injuries.

 Crews with the Rutherford County Emergency Management Response Team – Hazardous Materials unit placed booms across the river to catch any fuel that may have leaked from the wreckage. It was later discovered that an estimated 50-75 gallons of diesel fuel was released into the Second Broad River. Additionally, it was discovered that the truck had been hauling multiple pallets of fertilizer, 4.5 tons of fertilizer was released into the river as a result of the crash. 

State partners from North Carolina Emergency Management, North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality – Division of Water Resources, North Carolina Wildlife & the Foothills Health District were notified of the hazardous materials release. US-74 Hwy. westbound passed Exit 187 currently remains closed as a result of the crash. Foothills Spill Response Team is currently on-scene conducting environmental remediation efforts.

Agencies involved: Sandy Mush Volunteer Fire Department, Rutherford County 911 Communications Center, Rutherford County EMS, Rutherford County, NC Emergency Management (Hazardous Materials & Swift-water Rescue teams), North Carolina State Highway Patrol, North Carolina Department of Transportation, Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office, N.C.