Semi-truck crash leaves 76,000 lbs of potatoes spread across highway

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A crash near Mesquite, Nevada, caused around 76,000 pounds of potatoes to spill onto Interstate 15 early Friday morning, creating significant traffic backups for drivers traveling towards Las Vegas.

According to Nevada State Police, a crash involving two semi-trucks and a car happened around 5:55 a.m. local time. One of the trucks, carrying potatoes, was damaged and spilled about 76,000 pounds of produce onto the road.

One person was transported to a hospital and treated for minor injuries, authorities confirmed.

38 tons of potatoes block road

The crash caused major traffic problems right after it happened. The Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada said all lanes heading south were temporarily closed near mile marker 113, close to the Riverside Road exit (State Route 170).

Teams were sent to clean up the spilled cargo on the freeway, and police directed traffic around the area. Drivers heading to Las Vegas faced delays as the cleanup continued throughout the morning.

About three hours after the incident, officials announced that the potatoes had been cleared from the road and all lanes were reopened for traffic.

This has happened before. In August 2025, a truck crash spilled thousands of hot dogs across the highway after it hit the center divider.

Only a month earlier, a highway was blanketed in mozzarella cheese when a truck’s trailer broke open during a crash.

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2026-02-02 18:49