Troopers, from left, Lee Steed Jr., Scott Henley and Jason W. Ginn wait for the cleanup of the truck and its contents.(Jon Giffin The Vicksburg Post)

[9/18/03]Traffic was stalled on Interstate 20 near the Hinds and Warren County line for nearly six hours Wednesday after an 18-wheeler turned over on the highway.

The truck, carrying hundreds of spools of thread, was driven by Michael Tillery, 44, of High Point, N.C.

Tillery and his wife, Janet Tillery, 54, were treated and released from River Region Medical Center, a hospital spokesman said.

“The driver had a blowout, causing the truck to leave the roadway, and struck the guardrail,” said Trooper Jason Ginn. “He lost control of the truck, and when he came back on the roadway the truck flipped onto its side.”

Traffic near the Big Black River was slowed and at times blocked from the time of the wreck, about 4 p.m., until 10 p.m. in the westbound lanes of the interstate while inmates from the Hinds County Penal Farm unloaded the truck so that it could be towed from the site, Ginn said.

Traffic in the eastbound lanes was not affected.