JELLICO, Tenn. — A tractor-trailer that was carrying maple syrup caught on fire and overturned Tuesday afternoon, blocking I-75 in both directions near Jellico, according to the Tennessee Department of Transportation.
The overturned tractor-trailer was reported at around 3:32 p.m. Eastern Time near Jellico, according to TDOT. It overturned near the Kentucky and Tennessee state lines, backing up southbound traffic past Jellico and into Kentucky at around 3:55 p.m. TDOT said southbound lanes were later closed at the 5th Street exit.
Northbound traffic was backed up to near Rock Quarry Road.
The road was still closed at around 9 p.m. on Tuesday, according to TDOT.
The Tennessee Highway Patrol said the driver of the tractor-trailer was injured in the crash. They said Colin Schoonover, 42, was driving north on I-75 when he lost control, jackknifed and hit the median wall and overturned onto it. THP said the tractor-trailer slid down the wall on its passenger side before stopping and catching fire.