Tractor trailer crashes, trees down after heavy rainfall in the foothills

WSOCTV.com News Staff
·2 min read
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The foothills have had a Labor Day full of heavy rain, causing several car crashes and trees to fall down.

Highway patrol told Reporter Dave Faherty that they responded to several crashes along the foothills.

Among those crashes was a tractor trailer hauling food that crashed into a fence and storage building along Highway 16, south of the town of Taylorsville.

ALSO READ: FORECAST: Soggy Labor Day with chance for showers most of the day

EMS said that at the time of the crash, Alexander County was seeing rainfall rates in excess of five inches an hour.

“Everyone’s boots are covered. Mud got slung up on the side of the walls. You can just see how wet it was that it was able to move the grass and mud up against the building on top of the roof. Just a lot of water in a little amount of time,” said Garrett Huffman, Alexander County Emergency Management Coordinator.

In Catawba County, the heavy rainfall in Hickory caused one car to hydroplane, sending it into the woods. The driver wasn’t hurt, but there were similar scenes across surrounding counties during the downpours.

Highway patrol said charges are pending in those crashes. They said the ground is so wet that going off the road just a little, could cause big problems.

ALSO READ: ‘Saved my life’: Man credits good Samaritans with his escape from Hickory house fire

The steady rain also brought trees down near Morganton and Lenoir, with power crews on the scene for repairs.

There was no reported flooding in those areas, but in Caldwell County, the concern over flash floods had sheriff’s deputies asking residents to stay out of the Wilson Creek because of heavy rain near Grandfather Mountain.

ALSO READ: Labor Day 2022: What is open, closed on Monday?

The heavy rain showers didn’t deter one family from going fishing along the Catawba River on Monday. They were determined to enjoy their Labor Day.

“Just trying to have some fun with the kids. It’s Labor Day so you know trying to have some fishing time with the family. My brother… my cousin as well too.”

(WATCH BELOW: Foothills law enforcement and educators hit the classroom for lessons on keeping students safe)