A state trooper said that as many as 40 cars could have been involved in a string of collisions.
ORANGE COUNTY, N.C. — Snow brought by a winter storm Wednesday is causing traffic issues on some major roadways across the Triad on Wednesday.
One particularly treacherous area has been near the I-40 and I-85 split, where an NC State Highway Patrol trooper told WFMY News 2 that there have been “a lot of collisions,” with one being deemed serious.
CBS 17 in Raleigh reported Wednesday that approximately 50 vehicles were involved in one pileup at the I-40/I-85 split that left one person dead and multiple other suffering non-life-threatening injuries.
The North Carolina State Highway Patrol confirmed Wednesday night that 53 cars were involved in the incident:
“Two separate collisions had occurred on I-40/85 causing traffic to slow to a stop, backing traffic up onto I-40. The stopped traffic was struck from behind by multiple vehicles, including a tractor/trailer that struck a passenger vehicle from behind causing a fatality. At least three additional multi-vehicle collisions occurred behind the fatal collision blocking I-40. Twelve collisions occurred within the immediate area of I-40 near the 159-mile marker with a total of fifty-three vehicles involved.”
78-year-old Jerolyn Day Wilson, of Burlington, died as a result of the crash. The Highway Patrol said a 44-year-old man from Spartanburg was charged with misdemeanor death by motor vehicle and exceeding a safe speed for conditions.
First Sergeant Christopher Knox told WFMY News 2 that up to 40 vehicles could be involved in what might “not be one big collision but rather a bunch of small collisions in a small area,” though he couldn’t put an exact number on how many cars might be involved.
Viewer Terry Edwards Campbell shared photos from the interstate that appear to show two tractor-trailers involved in an accident and several other cars piled up behind them.
Traffic maps show major delays along the interstate in Alamance and Orange counties. WFMY News 2 has reached out to the State Highway Patrol for further comment.
A video captured by WFMY News 2’s Nixon Norman shows an even closer look at the carnage the weather caused on the interstate. By our estimation, nearly two dozen care were involved in accidents on this small stretch of I-40 in Efland.
