Drivers along a Pennsylvania highway faced a harrowing experience as captured by Derek Gooderham's dashcam footage. On Tuesday, Dec. 3, a tractor-trailer carrying lumber overturned on an overpass in Harrisburg, Penn., sending lumber cascading onto the highway below. According to WHP-TV, WGAL-TV, and USA Today, this incident sent shockwaves through the commuting community.

"Highway Hazard: Lumber Avalanche's Impact"

Aftermath of the Truck Overturn

In a Storyful video shared by CBS News, several cars were seen driving under the overpass when dozens of lumber pieces began rolling down a hill and hit a white car in the far right lane. The force of the lumber was so great that it pushed the white car to the far left, off the highway and into a tree. A pickup truck managed to speed up and avoid the debris, driving safely away. This incident serves as a stark reminder of the potential dangers on the road.

It was clear that the speed at which the lumber was falling and the force with which it hit the cars was extremely dangerous. No one was injured in this incident, but it was a close call that could have had much more severe consequences.

Details of the Incident

Gooderham told Storyful, as reported by USA Today, that it was "an avalanche of 2x4s and 2x12s" - building materials that covered the highway. He also noted to WGAL-TV that this was "the scariest thing I have seen so far in my life." The speed at which these chunks of wood were flying was at highway levels, and he had never been in a life-or-death situation like this before.

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment on the incident. However, they did tell WHP-TV that the truck overturned on a ramp from Interstate-81 south, sending construction material rolling onto the I-83 north around 5 p.m. Following the crash, the ramp from I-83 north to I-81 south was closed for about five hours as crews removed the debris. The highway reopened around 10:30 p.m., allowing traffic to resume.

This incident highlights the importance of safety on the roads and the need for proper precautions when transporting large amounts of materials. It also shows the resilience of drivers in the face of such unexpected and dangerous situations.