UPDATED

According to Alabama State Troopers and reports from the Southern Torch, a stretch of I-59, that was closed after an 18-wheeler accident occurred at 1:25am Wednesday, has now re-opened.  All lanes of traffic were re-opened just prior to 11:00am – after emergency crews finished cleaning up a fuel spill which resulted from the wreck.  Reportedly, the big rig was hauling a jet engine when it crashed. 

Collinsville Police Chief Andy Brown said the 18-wheeler – a 2012 Freightliner, being driven by a male resident of Pennsylvania – was traveling southbound, and following the wreck, traffic had to be detoured to Alabama Highway 68 by ALDOT over the next several hours as EMA officials and a variety of other agencies responded to the scene.

The driver of the rig managed to escape serious injury, and that accident remains under investigation by state troopers.