An 18-wheeler carrying three 80-foot-long steel pipes that weigh 14,000 pounds each separated came apart Thursday.

The truck separated from the trailer, according to the driver, Larry Richardson. The spill caused the closing of Alabama Highway 10 West for several hours.

"The fifth-wheel just came loose from the trailer," said Richardson.

"But thank God that no one was hurt," he said.

Richardson was driving a truck owned by Dun Transportation and Stringing, Inc. located in Sherman, Texas, and was hauling the load of pipe to Linden.