A 14-ton steel trunion ring was propelled from a tractor trailer along Route 209, a mile south of the Jim Thorpe bridge over the Lehigh River, causing traffic delays between Jim Thorpe and Nesquehoning.

En route from a manufacturing plant in York to the Zinc Company of America site in Palmerton, the equipment, extending over the sides of the Dorsey trailer, sideswiped a pointed rock protruding from the base of Mount Pisgah and left a deep slice in the roadway after falling from over the rear wheels of the trailer.The incident happened along a sweeping curve just north of the Northern Liberties Civil War Memorial, backing up traffic in both directions for long distances.