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UPDATE: Thousands of oranges spill on I-295

Posted at 5:53 AM, Apr 11, 2014
and last updated 2014-04-11 13:59:19-04

HANOVER COUNTY, Va. (WTVR) -  Police charged the driver of the tractor trailer that overturned and spilled oranges on I-295 in Hanover Friday morning with reckless driving – failure to maintain proper control.

Jose A. Cruz, 36, of Orlando, Fla., was wearing his safety belt and suffered minor injuries, according to Virginia State Police spokesman Sgt. Thomas Molnar.

Orange spill on I-295 (PHOTO: Jerrita Patterson)

Orange spill on I-295 (PHOTO: Jerrita Patterson)

The truck was hauling 76,000 pounds of oranges, according to state police.

"There was a diesel fuel spill from the saddle tanks of the tractor-trailer after it overturned," Sgt. Molnar said.

The spill closed all lanes of I-295 north near Rt. 627/Meadowbridge Rd. between 4 a.m. and 7 a.m. Friday, VDOT advised. The far left lanes reopened by 7:15 a.m.

Drivers were told to use Exit 37 to Route 360 as an alternate route.

Orange spill on I-295 (PHOTO: Jerrita Patterson)

Orange spill on I-295 (PHOTO: Jerrita Patterson)

The orange spill happened about 3:30 a.m. when the truck ran off the right side of the interstate and overturned when the driver over corrected, according to state police.

"The crash remains under investigation," Molnar said.

Orange spill on I-295 (PHOTO: Jerrita Patterson)

Orange spill on I-295 (PHOTO: Jerrita Patterson)

This is a developing story.