ACCIDENT ON I-81, PAINT SPILLED

Wytheville, Va. — Wythe County Emergency Management officials say that a tractor and trailer hauling two Fed-Ex containers wrecked on the northbound side of Interstate 81 in Wytheville at mile marker 73.3.

The accident occurred earlier this morning at the I-81 / I-77 split.

According to first responders on scene, the wrecked cargo included paint, which spilled onto the roadway.

Due to the fact that paint is flammable and harmful to the environment, Virginia HAZMAT officials are in route to assist in the containment effort.

The public is in no danger, however, responders on the scene say that traffic will be an issue for motorists traveling on the northbound side of I-81 throughout much of the day; crews will be working to clean up the spilled paint.

As of 9:50 a.m. traffic on the northbound side of I-81 had been reduced to one-lane.

Wytheville Fire Department, Virginia State Police, Wythe County Emergency Management and Virginia HAZMAT crews are working the accident.

The accident was a single-vehicle accident and no injuries have been reported.

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