Interstate 85 carries a heavy volume of freight through Gaston County every day. Most of it moves without incident. When a tractor-trailer fails mechanically at highway speed, the result is a closed interstate and, frequently, injuries to people who had no warning at all.
A Tire Failure Near Bessemer City Road
Around 1 p.m. on Tuesday, July 28, a tractor-trailer overturned on I-85 near Bessemer City Road in Gastonia. Officers said a tire blew out, the driver lost control, and the truck rolled onto its side. The load spilled across the interstate, closing two southbound lanes and one northbound lane. No injuries were reported.
That last part had a great deal to do with timing.
A Blowout Is Rarely a Random Event
Tires fail for reasons that are usually documented somewhere. Underinflation, worn tread, sidewall damage, retread separation, and overloading all leave a paper trail before they leave rubber on the shoulder.
During the 2025 International Roadcheck, inspectors issued 2,899 tire-related violations severe enough to place vehicles out of service, second only to brake defects among vehicle violations.
Federal regulations require motor carriers to systematically inspect and maintain their equipment, and require drivers to report defects at the end of each day. When a tire comes apart on the interstate, the real question is whether any of that actually happened.
The Records That Answer It
- Driver vehicle inspection reports from the days before the wreck
- Maintenance and repair invoices for both the tractor and the trailer
- Tire purchase records, including whether retreads were used
- Weight tickets and bills of lading showing what was being hauled
- Engine control module data reflecting speed and braking
- Prior roadside inspection history for the carrier
Carriers don’t keep every document forever. A written preservation letter, sent early, is often what stops those records from disappearing on a routine retention schedule.
Spilled Cargo Creates a Second Hazard
An overturned truck blocks lanes. A spilled load does something worse. Debris scattered across both directions forces sudden braking and unplanned lane changes, and the secondary collisions that follow injure people who never saw the original crash.
Responsibility in those situations may extend past the driver.
More Than One Company May Be Involved
Trucking operations are layered. The driver may be an employee or an owner-operator. The trailer may belong to a separate company. Maintenance is often contracted out, and the shipper may have loaded the trailer. Identifying which entity failed takes early investigation, not assumptions.
A Gastonia truck accident lawyer can start that work while the vehicle is still available for inspection and the records remain on file.
If you were hurt in a crash involving a commercial vehicle in Gaston County, a Gastonia, NC truck accident lawyer can explain what evidence matters and how quickly it has to be requested.
The Layton Law Firm handles serious injury claims throughout North Carolina. Contact our office to have your crash reviewed and your options explained.
Christopher D. Layton, Esq.
Christopher D. Layton, Esq. is the founder and lead attorney of The Layton Law Firm. He has been practicing law in Charlotte since 2000 and currently focuses on the plaintiff’s needs and personal injury clients. Chris chose to become a lawyer to protect people who would be taken advantage of without strong legal advocacy, and this dedication to the needs of his clients shows in the firm’s strong record of successful results. He founded The Layton Law Firm in 2011.