WASHINGTON — A tractor-trailer jackknifed on the Outer Loop of the Capital Beltway early Wednesday in Prince George’s County, spilling its load of potatoes onto the highway. The accident forced the shutdown of the Outer Loop near Forestville, Maryland twice, once when the accident occurred around 2:30 a.m. and again at about 8: 20 a.m. when crews came back to remove the tractor-trailer from the scene. All lanes did not reopen until after 11 a.m. When the lanes were open, traffic was slow to get past the scene, and drivers on the Inner Loop slowed to see what was happening. Just after the accident, the truck’s load of potatoes became mashed potatoes, as cars drove through the area.
#PGCo Outer Loop past Allentown Rd (x9): LEFT lane BLOCKED #MashPotatoes #mdtraffic #dctraffic @NewsChopperBrad pic.twitter.com/tg7tGziLzP
— WTOP Traffic (@WTOPtraffic) June 10, 2015
First4Traffic: RT RT nbcwashington: A truck carrying potatoes overturned on the Beltway’s OL. Major traffic near t… pic.twitter.com/2YSlsYjpEH — NBC fan (@NbcWashFan) June 10, 2015
The driver of the tractor trailer was flown by helicopter to the hospital after the accident. The extent of the driver’s injuries are not known.