Driver unhurt as 18-wheeler overturns on U.S. 70

HAVELOCK - A truck driver escaped injury Wednesday after his 18-wheeler overturned on U.S. 70 east of Havelock.

Johnny Wainwright, 51, of Blounts Creek, walked away from the crash, which  happened about 12:30 p.m. in the westbound lane of the highway.

Havelock Fire and Rescue personnel helped get Wainwright out of the cab by taking the windshield out. The driver refused medical treatment.

"I'm just shaken up. I might be sore tomorrow," he said. "Seatbelts do save."

Wainwright, who drives for the Celadon trucking company, had picked up a load of rubber at the port in Morehead City and was headed to Indianapolis when the 53-foot trailer overturned. He would not comment on exactly how the wreck happened.

According to Trooper Steve Brown of the N.C. Highway Patrol, the truck left the road just after a straightaway about 150 yards from where it eventually came to rest on its side.

"Evidently, he just drove off the road and overturned," Brown said. "According to the witness, he tried to correct it but he overcorrected and turned over in a low spot."

Brown said Wainwright would be cited for failure to maintain lane control.

The impact split the trailer open, spilling the load of rubber contained in plastic bags into a roadside ditch filled with water.

No other vehicles were involved in the crash.

Westbound drivers on U.S. 70 were limited to one lane getting around the crash, but no major traffic delays were reported.