Traffic along Interstate 55 was slowed this morning when atractor-trailer left the road and flipped, injuring the driver andclosing two lanes.

Roderick Watts of New Orleans, who was driving for West BankContainers Service Inc. of Avondale, La., was transported to King’sDaughters Medical Center, MHP trooper Larry Foster said.

Watts was traveling north along I-55 around 2:45 a.m. when thevehicle left the road to the left and flipped before stopping inthe median just north of exit 42, Foster said.

The driver was trapped in the cab of the truck. Brookhaven FireDepartment, New Sight Volunteer Fire Department and local wreckercrews worked for about 45 minutes with the Jaws of Life to free himfrom the wreckage, a BFD spokesman said.

Watts’ injuries were not life-threatening and he was expected tobe released today, said Staff Sgt. Rod Crawford, public affairsofficer for Troop M.

Traffic was restricted to one lane in each direction on theinterstate for about 10 minutes to position the equipment to cleanup the accident scene and median, Crawford said.