Henry Daily Herald

I-75 southbound

McDONOUGH — An overturned tractor trailer truck brought traffic to a halt on the southbound lanes of Interstate 75 early Thursday.

Henry County Police Sgt. Joey Smith said the incident happened around 5:30 a.m. Drivers were stuck on the interstate for nearly six hours. Traffic resumed around 11:30 a.m., when eventually all lanes were open, according to Henry County Police Sgt. Joey Smith.

“A tractor trailer traveling on I-75 southbound near the 216 exit overturned,” said Smith. “The driver claimed that he struck debris in the roadway.” Smith would later add that “responding officers confirmed that they also observed tire debris in the roadway while responding to the scene.”

Henry County Fire Chief Bill Lacy said he and his firefighters took precautions to determine the overturned truck’s cargo.

“We were in protective equipment while we did the initial assessment,” Lacy said.

Lacy described the contents the tractor trailer was carrying as a mixed load.

“The majority of what spilled on the road today was resin, which is a marine resin,” said the fire chief.

The truck driver, Alfred Robinson, of Lithonia, was transported to Piedmont Henry Hospital for injuries that were non-life-threatening. Robinson, 46, was scheduled to be released from the hospital with minor injuries, later in the day, Smith said.

Police said Robinson had just left a trucking terminal in Conley, and was possibly heading to Savannah, when his truck overturned. There were no other cars involved in the accident.

The police sergeant said there were no charges filed against Robinson on Thursday.

“[However,] the accident is still under investigation,” said Smith.

The Georgia Department of Transportation and Highway Emergency Response Operators (HERO) assisted police and firefighters with the accident, Smith said.