Officials said an 18-wheeler overturned around 11 p.m. along Herring Avenue at London Church Road.
Residents within a 1000-foot radius were evacuated as a precaution after some fuel spilled from the truck.
"Anytime you are dealing with flammable materials there is the potential for a hazardous situation," said Lt. Tad Shelton of the Wilson Police Department.
The truck overturned under a power line and electricity in the area was shut off as a precaution.
Police said the truck's tires came off as the driver was backing up to deliver its full load.
"Its tires slipped off into a ditch and the vehicle overturned onto its passenger side," Shelton said.
Fuel from the 18-wheeler tanker was tranferred to another truck. The road reopened at 7 a.m.
About 65 people, including residents of an assisted living center, spent the night at a Red Cross Shelter set up at Fike High School.
The driver was not injured. Police are calling it an accident and the driver has not been charged.
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