DURHAM, N.C. (DDN) – A crash involving 53 vehicles on Interstate 40 in Orange County resulted in one fatality and several injuries as snow covered the area on Wednesday afternoon. Transportation officials reported over 1,000 crashes across the state during the winter storm.
Two separate accidents occurred just before 3 p.m. on I-40 westbound at the Interstate 85 connector, leading to significant traffic delays and backups onto I-40, according to officials from the N.C. State Highway Patrol.
Officials report that Jerolyn Day Wilson, 78, from Burlington, lost her life in the crash. A 44-year-old man named William Kellam, who was driving the tractor-trailer involved in the crash, has been charged with misdemeanor death by vehicle and for driving too fast for the conditions.
Winter weather caused dangerous road conditions on state highways, leading to additional accidents as well. State officials reported that there were 1,196 crashes in North Carolina on Wednesday. Additionally, there were 748 calls for service related to downed trees and traffic lights.
By noon on Thursday, there were about 6,105 reported power outages across the state, primarily affecting the east coast due to considerable ice damage. The State Emergency Response Team is still active, with the North Carolina National Guard on the ground to help on the roads, including 188 guardsmen and 60 vehicles involved.
Three crashes were reported on I-40 in the Triangle area Thursday morning. The incidents occurred near Highway 70, N.C. 210, and South Saunders Street.
Since Wednesday, over 2,300 employees and contractors from NCDOT have been busy clearing roads. They have deployed more than 2,200 trucks and motor graders, utilizing 12,650 tons of salt, as reported by the Governor’s Office.
Teams are focusing on interstates and major highways, as thawing is not anticipated until Friday afternoon. Authorities caution that black ice remains a threat during morning hours.
Reference: More than 1K wrecks reported across N.C., including 53-car crash in Durham
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