By Alabama Public Radio
Birmingham, AL – A north Alabama interstate was shut down early Wednesday morning when a tractor-trailer spilled almost 23,000 pounds of bell peppers. State trooper say around 4 a.m., the rig overturned on a curve on I-65 in Morgan County. Troopers say the driver, Howard Allen Tucker of Wilmer, was airlifted to UAB Hospital. The 49-year-old was listed in good condition Thursday. Troopers say alcoholic beverages were confiscated from the truck, and they plan to look at hospital records to determine if Tucker was driving under the influence. It took crews about 15 hours to clean up the peppers and load them on another truck. Troopers say the vegetables were being transported from El Salvador to Canada.