What looked like an unexpected fireworks show along Interstate 75 on Saturday could have had far more serious consequences, according to the Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP).

In a statement shared on Monday, June 8, after a trailer carrying fireworks caught fire and sent fireworks exploding in every direction, THP’s Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division, known as Motor Carrier Plus, conducted a post-incident inspection and discovered multiple violations involving the transportation of hazardous materials. The shipment, driven by Dalton Beeler, of Tennessee, was traveling from South Pittsburg to Knox County when the fire occurred.

The inspection found the carrier was transporting fireworks without several federally required safety measures. Violations included:

• No current hazardous materials registration.

• No emergency response information for first responders.

• No hazardous materials shipping papers.

• No placards identifying the hazardous cargo.

• The driver did not have the required hazardous materials endorsement.

• No USDOT number, when required.

THP officials said the driver was cited for no hazmat endorsement, identified during the inspection.

The inspection findings have been documented and referred through the appropriate regulatory channels for further review. Additional enforcement action, including potential federal penalties, will be determined by the appropriate regulatory authorities.

“This incident looked like a fireworks show, but it could have been much worse,” said Col. Matt Perry, commander of the Tennessee Highway Patrol. “Hazardous materials regulations exist to protect both the public and the first responders who rush toward danger when everyone else is moving away from it. The work performed by our Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division helps identify safety violations and reinforces the importance of compliance with federal and state transportation laws.”

THP’s Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division works closely with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA), Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) and other transportation safety partners to improve commercial vehicle safety and ensure hazardous materials are transported safely on Tennessee highways.

THP officials added that when first responders arrive at a crash or fire involving hazardous materials, they rely on shipping papers, warning placards, and emergency response information to quickly identify hazards and determine the safest course of action. Those requirements are designed to protect motorists, firefighters, law enforcement officers and EMS personnel responding to emergencies.

The images from Interstate 75 drew attention across Tennessee. Behind those images was a commercial vehicle carrying regulated explosives on a public highway without several of the safety requirements federal law requires for hazardous materials transportation.