It was a scary situation Monday morning when a tractor-trailer lost its load while traveling along U.S. Highway 12 just off the exit ramp to South 11th Street in Niles.

According to the Berrien County Sheriff’s Department, officers responded to the accident in Niles Township at 6:59 a.m. Monday.

The westbound semi, from Total Package Express in Cincinnati, Ohio, lost its load — a steel coil weighing 31,000 pounds. The coil broke loose and landed on the roadway, causing a large hole. It bounced and caused more damage to the roadway before eventually going into the median.

Sheriff’s department officials said then the coil started to unroll and crossed both eastbound lanes of U.S. 12 before stopping in the ditch. The accident left both lanes of U.S. 12 covered with debris.

The accident was investigated by the Berrien County Sheriff’s Department with the Michigan State Police Niles Post and motor carrier assisting.

The roadway was returned to its prior condition approximately three hours later.

No one was injured in the accident.

The driver of the truck received citations for his involvement with the accident.