Overturned tanker shuts down Dallas High Five

DALLAS - First responders shut down Highway 75 – Central Expressway near the Dallas High Five Thursday morning because of an overturned tanker.

The 18-wheeler rolled over around 4 a.m. Thursday on the southbound Hwy. 75 ramp to the LBJ Express.

The crash was directly over Hwy. 75 so traffic in both directions was shut down between Forest Lane and Midpark Road for most of the morning. Eastbound and westbound LBJ Freeway were also shut down and some service roads were closed.

FOX 4 traffic reporter Chip Waggoner the closures caused multi-mile backups in all directions and all secondary routes were overloaded. Drivers were encouraged to avoid the area completely.

Around 10:30 a.m. eastbound LBJ reopened. Westbound traffic is being forced to take northbound 75. On northbound 75, traffic is being detoured off the highway at the Coit Road flyover. Southbound 75 is still closed at Midpark. 

The tanker was hauling a highly flammable liquid that appeared to be leaking. Crews from the trucking company have to offload all of hazardous material before the truck can be righted and removed.

Cleanup could take several hours.

The driver of the 18-wheeler was not hurt.