Workers from a towing company prepare to tow the truck away from the scene. | Brent Maze

The driver of a tractor trailer was airlifted to the hospital after it crashed just south of the Thompson Road exit on I-65 in Morgan County earlier today.

Hartselle Fire Chief Steve Shelton said his department received the call at 11:52 a.m. the 18-wheeler traveling southbound on I-65 veered into the median just south of the Cedar Creek bridge, crashed through guard rails and came to rest in a wooded area on the eastern side of the northbound lanes.

Shelton said the Alabama Department of Transportation was working on the highway when the crash occurred.

“Some of the ALDOT workers indicated that the truck got tangled up in the construction cones and the driver couldn’t get it corrected,” Shelton said. “It amazing that it didn’t hit any of the workers or hit another car head on.”

Information on the condition or identity of the driver was not immediately available. Shelton said the driver of the tanker was apparently transporting a load from Chattanooga, Tenn., to Falkville.

The truck appeared to be the only vehicle involved in the crash.

Both northbound lanes of traffic were closed to clear the crash. One lane of I-65 southbound remained open.

Alabama State Troopers are investigating the crash.