A tanker truck accident on Interstate 81 in Hagerstown, Maryland, caused a temporary shutdown and evacuations of nearby businesses early Monday morning. The truck, carrying ammonium nitrate, crashed around 6:15 a.m. after a suspected tire blowout. The incident occurred in the southbound lanes near Halfway Boulevard.

Preliminary investigations suggest the tire malfunction caused the driver to lose control, leading the truck to veer off the road, break through a guardrail, and overturn into an embankment. Approximately three gallons of ammonium nitrate spilled, prompting authorities to evacuate businesses within a 1,500-foot radius as a safety measure. The evacuations were lifted before 9:30 a.m.

Emergency responders were on the scene quickly. The driver, a 32-year-old Pennsylvania resident, was transported to Meritus Medical Center. His condition remains undisclosed. While northbound lanes reopened by 8:50 a.m., southbound lanes remained partially closed as the investigation continues.

The incident caused significant disruption to traffic flow. Authorities are still working to determine the exact cause of the crash.