Johnston Resident Wants DOT To Look At Accident-Prone Road

In July on the same stretch of road, another tanker wreck caused another gas spill. One year ago, another tanker was involved in a wreck on Highway 96. As a result of that accident, 9,000 gallons of gas flowed on Max Hocutt's property.

"It was a terrible accident and the way that tractor-trailer hit that car, it's amazing that anyone could ever walk -- be alive, much less walk," he said.

On Saturday, it was all in his front yard again. After three accidents in one year, Hocutt said he has had enough.

"I think we got a bunch of jugheads in Raleigh right at the moment," he said. "I'm going to start calling my representatives and the governor's office and Lyndo Tippett at the Department of Transportation. I'm going to get on the phone and I'm going to do some hollering myself."

Hocutt said trucks often load up at the Selma tank farm, then head down Highway 96. He said the road needs to be widened or the trucks should take another route.

The Highway Patrol claims wrecks are actually down 6.4 percent over the last year along Highway 96 through Johnston County. The patrol said they will increase enforcement in the area. There are no plans to widen or improve that part of Highway 96.

DOT officals said Highway 96 near Covered Bridge Road will remain closed at least until Wednesday.