LEBANON, Tenn. (AP) - Tennessee state officials have apologized to about 400 motorists who were stuck on Interstate 40 for about 11 hours after a truck overturned this week.
Department of Transportation Commissioner John Schroer said his agency "should have done better, and we apologize."
"We have a responsibility to the citizens of the state and visitors that travel to our state to keep our roadway open and I don't think we did a very good job of that," he added.
A tractor-trailer carrying about 40,000 pounds of potatoes crashed Thursday around 8:30 p.m. just before mile marker 245 east of Lebanon. I-40 eastbound lanes were still partially blocked until about 3:30 p.m. Friday.
State officials said the first to arrive at the scene did not notify proper personnel to assist in diverting traffic and creating a turnaround plan, and officials did not adequately monitor the welfare of motorists stuck in traffic.
The driver of the truck, 55-year-old Roy Golden, of Knoxville, faces DUI and reckless driving charges.
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
