‘Very large lithium battery’ blocked traffic in Richfield, police say

RICHFIELD, Sevier County – A tractor-trailer hauling a “very large lithium battery” overturned Saturday morning, bringing traffic to a standstill in Richfield.

Richfield police posted on Facebook that the semi-trailer attempted to turn into the Flying J at the corner of 35 E. Flying J Drive but overturned.

“Due to the extreme fire danger, the immediate area was cordoned off until the battery could be uprighted and cleared from the roadway. This was a very complex operation due to the extreme weight of the battery (77,000 pounds),” the police department said in a statement.

The battery was removed around 2 p.m. and Main Street was reopened, but Flying J Drive was still partially closed as workers waited for a new trailer to haul the battery away.