North Little Rock, Arkansas – Drivers headed eastbound on Interstate 40 faced serious delays Wednesday after a semi-truck overturned late in the morning, blocking traffic and forcing vehicles to pass along the narrow left shoulder.
According to the Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT), the crash occurred around 11:38 a.m. near mile marker 151. The overturned semi-truck, which was carrying a load of wood chips, created a significant obstacle across the eastbound lanes in North Little Rock.
“Traffic officials said traffic is passing on the left shoulder,” ARDOT confirmed, as emergency crews responded to the scene and began working to remove the large vehicle and scattered cargo.
This crash was the second semi-truck accident to take place on I-40 in North Little Rock on the same day. The first occurred just after 1 a.m., also involving an 18-wheeler. Details about the earlier crash are still limited, but it added further congestion and concern on one of the area’s busiest roadways.
Authorities have not confirmed any injuries related to the latest incident, and it remains unclear what caused the truck to overturn. Conditions at the time of the crash, including weather and road surface, have not yet been cited as factors.
The Arkansas State Police and other emergency responders remained on-site into the afternoon, redirecting traffic and ensuring safety for those still on the road. Crews worked to remove the truck and clean up the spilled load of wood chips, which had partially scattered across multiple lanes.
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Motorists were urged to avoid the area if possible and seek alternate routes while cleanup continued. The blocked eastbound lanes and limited use of the shoulder caused backups stretching for miles during midday travel.
Though no timeline was given for full lane reopening, ARDOT officials promised continued updates through official channels.
The back-to-back crashes underscore the challenges of navigating busy freight corridors and highlight the need for caution when sharing the road with large commercial vehicles.
