Truck driver’s bomb threat shuts down section of I-85 in South Carolina

UPDATE: Bomb team members have deemed the situation safe and are reopening I-85, according to Greenville County Sheriff’s Office. The driver of the trailer has been detained.

A driver of an 18-wheeler has shut down part of Interstate 85 in South Carolina following a bomb threat made during a traffic stop, according to officials and a local journalist.

Reports of the incident involving an 18-wheeler in Greenville, South Carolina, surfaced around 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, according to the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office and WXIA journalist Cody Alcorn. The driver reportedly stated that he had a bomb after being pulled over by State Transport Police.

“I-85 NB and SB in Greenville is closed near (Mile Marker) 44 due to an incident,” said Highway Patrol Community Relations Officer Mitchell Ridgeway. “Both sides of the I-85 are closed until further notice. Detours are posted, but the public is urged to avoid I-85 in this area until further notice.”

South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster issued a statement noting that the section of I-85 was closed as a precautionary measure due to the bomb threat. “Normal I-85 traffic will resume once the tractor-trailer is swept and cleared by SLED’s bomb squad,” McMaster said.

As of now, there is no indication of an explosive device in the trailer, nor has the identity of the driver been revealed.