Tuesday morning, April 30th around 5:00 an accident on Hwy 226 North led to the closing of the heavily traveled highway for over 9 hours. The accident which involved a tractor trailer resulted in a Hazmat spill according to McDowell County Emergency Management. The accident happened in the Coxes Creek section of Hwy 226. Cleanup crews were able to get the road back open around 2:30 pm yesterday. The North Carolina Department of Public Safety said a tractor trailer hauling liquid tar was headed south on NC 226 when the driver lost control and crossed the center line, overturning and blocking the road and spilling the tar. According to NC Hwy Patrol troopers the driver of the truck suffered serious injuries and was transported to the hospital. The liquid that spilled is affecting Coxes Creek and parts of Armstrong Creek. Pets and livestock should be kept away from those creeks.
