Drivers have been evacuated along the I-95 in Cumberland County, North Carolina after a crash involving a truck carrying a radioactive uranium compound Wednesday morning.
The North Carolina State Highway Patrol evacuated the area where the truck transporting uranium hexafluoride overturned at around 11:30 a.m.
Authorities said the chemical, used to make fuel for nuclear power plants, was not leaking.
The evacuation order was issued to avoid the minimal but present risk to the public and emergency responders.
“This is not a hazardous waste cleanup,” the North Carolina Department of Transportation said in a statement.
“The tractor-trailer crashed and turned over, on its side. It was hauling uranium, however.”
“We are proceeding to get equipment in place to right-side the tractor-trailer, then haul it away, off the interstate and reopen it.”
Highway Patrol officers added that the scene on I-95 will remain shut down until 5:35 p.m. today. The cause of the crash is being investigated.
