The driver of a tractor trailer that overturned this afternoon in Harris County, closing lanes and slowing traffic for several hours on Interstate 185, blamed the one-vehicle crash on a cup of Joe, authorities said.

The driver, who was not injured in the crash and had not yet been identified, told investigators he choked on coffee and lost control of the truck, Harris County Sheriff Mike Jolley said.

One northbound lane of I-185 was reopened this afternoon as authorities continued to clean up the wreckage caused by the crash, which happened before noon near mile marker 21. The truck, which was traveling south, slid through the median across the northbound lane and broke through a guardrail before coming to rest on the other side of the rail, short of a 200-foot dropoff. At about 1:45 p.m., the Wiley Sanders Truck Lines Inc., tractor trailer was resting upright off the road on the northbound lane.

There was heavy damage to the cab.

Georgia Department of Transportation workers were removing the guardrail so the truck could be pulled out by two wreckers already on the scene. Traffic originally had been diverted to Ga. Highway 219, dispatchers said.

Initial reports of the crash included conflicting information about a possible chemical leak. State troopers said the vehicle appeared to be leaking a small amount of battery acid. A Harris County dispatcher said the vehicle appeared to be leaking diesel fuel. Jolley, however, said there was no leak.

The Antioch Volunteer Fire Department and a Columbus Fire and Emergency Medical Services Haz Mat team responded.

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