18-Wheeler Rollover on I-10 Near Rosinton Injures Driver, Spills Fuel and Closes Lanes for Hours

ROSINTON, Ala. — An 18-wheeler rollover on Interstate 10 near Rosinton injured the truck’s driver Thursday morning and spilled a large amount of fuel and oil, prompting a hazardous materials response and closing part of the interstate for several hours, according to firefighters.

The driver climbed out of the overturned truck on his own and had minor injuries, firefighters said.

What happened

The crash happened at about 8:25 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 22, at Exit 49 on I-10 in central Baldwin County. That interchange connects the interstate with the Baldwin Beach Express, the north-south route that carries traffic toward Gulf Shores and Orange Beach.

The driver lost control of the tractor-trailer, and the rig rolled onto its side, according to firefighters. Authorities have not said what caused the driver to lose control, which direction the truck was traveling, what it was hauling, or whether any other vehicles were involved.

Several volunteer fire departments from the area responded, along with emergency medical services and the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. When crews arrived, they found the driver had already gotten himself out of the cab. A medical helicopter was also sent to the scene. Firefighters described the driver’s injuries as minor; it was not immediately clear whether he was flown to a hospital or taken by ground.

Because the crash left a large fuel and oil spill on the roadway, the Baldwin County Emergency Management Agency was notified. Part of the interstate stayed closed for several hours while crews worked.

Quick facts

• When: About 8:25 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 22, 2026
• Where: I-10 at Exit 49, the Baldwin Beach Express interchange near Rosinton
• Vehicle: An 18-wheeler that rolled onto its side
• Injuries: The driver, with minor injuries
• Hazards: Large fuel and oil spill; Baldwin County EMA notified
• Responders: Area volunteer fire departments, EMS, ALEA and a medical helicopter
• Traffic: Part of the roadway closed for several hours

An area with a history of crashes

Firefighters noted that the area where Thursday’s crash happened is known for frequent motor vehicle collisions. Interstate 10 across Baldwin County, and the Baldwin Beach Express that meets it at Exit 49, have seen a string of serious wrecks this fall:

• Oct. 8: A multi-vehicle crash near the 55 mile marker in the Rosinton area closed I-10 for more than an hour. One driver ran from the scene before being found.
• Oct. 15: A multi-vehicle wreck near the Alabama Welcome Center in eastern Baldwin County injured at least four people and shut westbound lanes for nearly two hours.
• Oct. 19: A crash at Wilters Road and the Baldwin Beach Express in Robertsdale left people seriously injured and required two medical helicopters.

Earlier in October, two drivers were killed in a head-on crash on the Baldwin Beach Express near Robertsdale. Baldwin County typically records just under 30 traffic deaths a year, and local crash records show an increase in serious wrecks involving large trucks.

About Exit 49 and Rosinton

Exit 49 is one of six I-10 interchanges in Baldwin County. Moving east from Mobile Bay, the interstate has exits at U.S. 90/98 at Battleship Parkway, U.S. 90/98 serving Daphne and Spanish Fort, Alabama 181 at Malbis, Alabama 59 at Loxley, the Baldwin Beach Express at Exit 49 and County Road 64, also known as Wilcox Road, at Exit 53. Beyond that, the interstate runs east to the Florida line, about 66 miles from Alabama’s western border with Mississippi.

The Baldwin Beach Express gives beach-bound drivers an alternative to Alabama 59 through Loxley, Robertsdale, Summerdale and Foley, and it funnels heavy traffic to and from I-10 during tourist season and on weekends.

Rosinton is a small, largely rural unincorporated community in central Baldwin County near Robertsdale. Fire protection in much of the area comes from volunteer fire departments, which routinely respond to interstate crashes alongside EMS crews and state troopers.

Why a fuel spill brings a hazmat response

A loaded tractor-trailer carries its own fuel supply in large saddle tanks mounted beside the cab, and those tanks commonly hold 100 gallons or more of diesel. When a truck rolls over, tanks and fuel lines can rupture, and engine oil and other fluids can leak onto the pavement.

Spilled fuel creates several dangers. It can make the road slick for other vehicles, it can catch fire, and it can run off into ditches, storm drains and nearby streams. Cleanup crews often use absorbent materials and booms to contain it, and contaminated soil may need to be removed. Emergency management agencies are typically notified so they can coordinate resources and make sure environmental concerns are addressed.

The Baldwin County Emergency Management Agency coordinates the county’s response to emergencies and disasters, from hurricanes such as Isaias earlier this month to hazardous materials incidents on its highways.

Who investigates

Crashes on interstates in Alabama are investigated by state troopers with ALEA’s Highway Patrol Division. Troopers document the scene, examine the vehicles and interview drivers and witnesses. In crashes involving commercial vehicles, investigators may also look at the truck’s load, its mechanical condition and the driver’s hours of service. Findings are typically released later.

ALEA has not released the driver’s name, his hometown or the trucking company involved, and it has not said whether any citations will be issued.

Driving safely around big trucks

• Stay out of the blind spots. If you can’t see the truck driver in the side mirror, the driver probably can’t see you.
• Give room. Large trucks need much more distance to stop than passenger vehicles. Don’t cut in front of them.
• Pass with care. Pass on the left, do it quickly and don’t linger beside the trailer.
• Slow down near crash scenes. Alabama’s Move Over law requires drivers to move over or slow down for stopped emergency vehicles with flashing lights.
• Check before you go. Drivers can look up crashes, closures and traffic conditions on Alabama highways through ALDOT’s ALGO Traffic website, algotraffic.com.

South AL News will update this story if more information is released.