Remains of pumpkins litter the shoulder of I-696 after being pulverized by passing drivers. (WWJ Photo/Ron Dewey)

FARMINGTON HILLS (WWJ) – The morning commute for drivers on I-696 near Orchard Lake Road got off to a smashing start Wednesday.

Traffic tipsters flooded the WWJ tip line around 6:20 a.m. Wednesday reporting a truck that spilled its entire haul of pumpkins, sending the orange gourds across the freeway – pulverized by passing drivers.

Tipster Pat Carmichael described the scene.

“There are hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of these pumpkins… There’s three lanes that are just covered with smashed pumpkins,” Carmichael said. “I’m just now getting toward Telegraph and the truck’s been pulled over by a police officer. The back of the truck has been sheared off.”

WWJ’s Bill Szumanski was over the scene in the WWJ Chopper.

“There are just so many of them down there that are getting smashed down to absolutely nothing. I-696 eastbound underneath Orchard Lake Road… and the pumpkins go from that point out another hundred yards or so,” Szumanski said.

WWJ’s Ron Dewey reports about an hour after the spill, the section of I-696 was closed momentarily so snow plows could clean up the mess.

Oakland County Road Commission spokesman Craig Bryson said it’s the first time he knows of the “underbelly plows,” which are typically utilized for smaller snow amounts, being used for pumpkin patrol.

For the latest from the roads, stay with WWJ Newsradio 950 during Traffic and Weather on the 8s, 24-hours a day. Check for recent traffic incidents now by visiting our Traffic Page.