Rutherfordton roadway closed as disabled tanker offloads sodium phosphate

RUTHERFORD COUNTY, N.C. (WLOS) — A roadway in Rutherfordton is closed after a tractor-trailer was disabled, leading to the sodium phosphate it was hauling to be unloaded, according to the North Carolina State Highway Patrol.

Around 2:13 p.m., NCSHP senior trooper Cody Childress said he responded to a disabled tractor-trailer at the Union Road and Baber Road intersection.

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According to an Alert Rutherford notification, emergency personnel were on the scene.

Childress said the tractor-trailer tried to make a right turn from Union Road to Baber Road when it became disabled on Baber Road.

A wrecker was called for the tractor-trailer.

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The tractor-trailer’s tanker was hauling sodium phosphate and because of how the tractor-trailer was stuck, the material had to be offloaded, Childress said.

Childress said Baber Road will be closed for an unknown period of time while the situation is being solved. Alert Rutherford said the Union Road/Baber Road area could be closed for several hours while the truck is unloaded.

NCSHP and Alert Rutherford suggest avoiding the area and finding an alternative route.