Batteries Close I-81 In Greene County

A traffic nightmare on Interstate 81 this morning. Around 5am, a tractor-trailer carrying 44,000 lbs. of batteries overturned in both southbound lanes…blocking the interstate. THP says the driver of the semi ran off the road and traveled up an embankment. The vehicle then turned back counterclockwise as it attempted to re-enter the roadway. While re-entering the roadway, the tractor-trailer rolled on its side and hit a guard rail, coming to a rest laying across the southbound lanes. The southbound lanes have been closed all morning…Crews are working to clear the scene and are rerouting drivers off the southbound interstate 81 at Exit 23 and into US11-E through Bulls Gap and to Morristown… Mosheim Volunteer Fire Department, Greene County EMS, Greene County HAZMAT, Tennessee Highway Patrol and Tennessee Department of Transportation have all been on the scene this morning. The driver of the semi was treated on the scene…otherwise he has no serious injuries. The interstate remains closed at of 9am this morning.