Drivers on I‑81 near Morristown got an unexpected traffic story to tell Wednesday morning when a tractor-trailer hauling roughly 34,000 pounds of live crabs caught fire on the northbound Exit 12 ramp. The off-ramp was shut down while crews battled the blaze, the driver escaped without injury after detaching the cab, and responders ultimately managed to save about two-thirds of the seafood cargo.
What officials said
A preliminary Tennessee Highway Patrol report says the driver spotted flames near the trailer's rear axle, steered the truck onto the shoulder of the Exit 12 ramp, then separated the cab before the trailer was quickly swallowed by fire, according to WVLT. TDOT spokesperson Mark Nagi told WVLT that crews were able to salvage roughly two-thirds of the live crabs and that traffic backups were limited mainly to the ramp closure itself.
Ramp closure and possible cause
Fox5/Gray Local Media reported the trailer was loaded with about 34,000 pounds of live crabs and that the Exit 12 ramp stayed closed for several hours while firefighters and highway crews worked the scene. TDOT said the ramp reopened shortly after 4:30 p.m. once traffic was cleared. No injuries were reported, and authorities told FOX5 Las Vegas they believe a rear trailer brake sparked the fire.
Salvage effort and shipping fallout
Nagi's estimate that about two-thirds of the load survived underscores how crews worked both to protect live animals and recover valuable freight, according to WVLT. The fiery breakdown is a pointed reminder of how a single mechanical problem can put perishable shipments at risk and keep key ramps closed while the scene is secured.
The Tennessee Highway Patrol is continuing to sort out the exact cause and timeline of the incident. Drivers moving through the Morristown stretch of I‑81 are being urged to keep an eye on local traffic alerts while cleanup and follow-up work are completed.
