Transfer Truck Overturns on I-85 in Gastonia

A large truck rolled over on an I-85 exit ramp in Gastonia during Monday’s morning commute, sending its driver to the hospital and closing the ramp for hours. Rollover wrecks involving heavy commercial trucks put everyone nearby at risk, not just the person behind the wheel. Knowing how these crashes happen, and who may be responsible, can help if you are ever caught up in one.

What Happened on the I-85 Exit Ramp

The crash was reported around 7:20 a.m. on Monday, May 4, 2026, on the I-85 North off-ramp at Exit 17, near N. New Hope Road in Gastonia. A transfer truck overturned on the ramp and blocked traffic during a busy stretch of the morning.

The Gastonia Police Department closed the ramp for a couple of hours while crews handled cleanup and recovery, and drivers were asked to use detour routes. The truck driver was taken to the hospital, and the driver’s condition was not immediately released. Officials also did not say what caused the truck to turn over.

A transfer truck is a large rig that pulls a separate trailer, often loaded with construction materials weighing as much as 25 tons.

Why Transfer Trucks Roll Over

A loaded truck carries much of its weight up high. That raises its center of gravity and makes it far more likely to tip when something goes wrong. Exit ramps are a common trouble spot, because the curve and the change in speed test a driver’s control.

Federal data shows how often this happens. Overturn, or rollover, was the first harmful event in 4 percent of all fatal large-truck crashes in 2022.

Common causes of truck rollovers include:

• Taking a ramp or curve too fast
• Cargo that shifts or was loaded unevenly
• Driver fatigue or distraction
• Sudden steering to avoid another vehicle
• Brake or tire failure under a heavy load

The Risks a Rollover Creates for Everyone Nearby

An overturned truck is more than a traffic delay. Spilled cargo can block lanes and create hazards for other drivers. Vehicles behind the truck may not have time to stop, which can lead to a second wave of collisions. When a rig carries heavy or bulky materials, the danger to the smaller cars around it grows.

Sorting Out Responsibility After a Truck Rollover

Fault in a truck rollover takes more than a glance at the scene. Several parties may share responsibility, including the driver, the trucking company, or the crew that loaded the cargo. Evidence tends to disappear quickly, so acting early matters.

Records that can matter in a Gastonia truck accident case include:

• Driver logs and hours-of-service data
• Truck maintenance and inspection reports
• Cargo weight and loading documents
• The truck’s electronic control data

After a Gastonia Truck Crash

A Gastonia truck accident can leave people with serious injuries, lost wages, and mounting medical bills through no fault of their own. Sorting out insurance and liability with a commercial carrier is rarely simple, and these companies often move fast to protect themselves.

At The Layton Law Firm, we help injured people in Gaston County understand their rights after a wreck involving a commercial truck.

If you were hurt in a crash on I-85 or anywhere in the area, a Gastonia, NC truck accident lawyer can look at what happened, gather the evidence before it is gone, and explain the options available to you.