SHREWSBURY, Pa. (AP) – A truckload of hot dogs spilled across Interstate 83 in Pennsylvania on Friday, causing significant disruption to traffic in both directions after the accident that occurred in the morning hours. The incident happened a few miles north of the Maryland border, coinciding with the end of the busy morning rush hour.
The tractor-trailer experienced an unspecified mechanical issue that led to it colliding with a passenger vehicle. As it scraped along a concrete divider, the trailer was severely damaged, resulting in hot dogs spilling onto the roadway. The highway became temporarily blocked as crews worked to clear the mess.
According to Shrewsbury Fire Company Chief Brad Dauberman, four individuals sustained injuries that required medical attention; fortunately, none of the injuries were life-threatening. Emergency responders scrambled to gather the hot dogs that littered the highway, and Dauberman described the cleanup process as both challenging and somewhat amusing. “Once those leave the truck and hit the road, that’s all garbage, and it’s still pretty warm,” he remarked.
To aid in the cleanup, a front-end loader was deployed to scoop up the hot dogs and transfer them into a dump truck for disposal. Dauberman highlighted the slippery nature of the hot dogs, noting, “I can tell you personally, hot dogs are very slippery. I did not know that.” The fire chief also mentioned that his daughter found humor in the situation, sending him a picture of a hot dog-themed T-shirt.
The response from local emergency crews remained light-hearted despite the seriousness of the incident. Crews recognized the unfortunate interruption caused by the hot dog accident but managed to find humor in their uncommon task of collecting the scattered food items.
This incident serves as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of highway travel and the various challenges emergency responders can face during such incidents. The accident not only caused a temporary halt to traffic but also highlighted the sometimes bizarre events that first responders handle on a daily basis.
