RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — From the Sandhills to the eastern stretches of the CBS 17 viewing area, an overwhelming number of wrecks have been reported along major and secondary roads.
In Orange County, officials said one person was pronounced dead in a crash involving 53 vehicles on Interstate 40 West near the 259 mile marker.
According to the NCSHP, two separate collisions on I-40 and I-85 caused traffic to stop and back up on I-40. The stopped traffic was then struck from behind by multiple vehicles, resulting in 12 total crashes within the immediate area.
Troopers said the deadly crash resulted from a tractor-trailer striking another vehicle from behind. The deadly crash blocked I-40, with at least three additional multi-vehicle collisions happened behind the deadly crash.
Jerolyn Day Wilson, 78, of Burlington was identified as the deceased, according to the NCSHP.
Troopers said the driver of tractor trailer was identified as 44-year-old William Crowell Kellam of Spartanburg, S.C. He was arrested and charged with misdemeanor death by vehicle and exceeding a safe speed for conditions. Kellam was given a written promise to appear in court.
Multiple others suffered non-life-threatening injuries, according to the Orange Rural Fire Department.
The NCSHP and local agencies have been out all day and night responding to overturned tractor trailers and a slew of vehicles that lost control on slick roadways which are now in the dark with temperatures only further dropping.
As Orange County Sheriff Charles Blackwood put it, “No matter how well your vehicle performs or how fantastic of a winter-weather driver you are, the obstacles are many and the risks are high.”
Just in the capital city alone, the Raleigh Police Department had responded to 45 crashes before 4:30 p.m., one of those involving a police cruiser. Earlier Wednesday, around noon, a tractor trailer hauling lumber wiped out, leaving all southbound lanes of I-95 in Selma closed.
Just before 5 p.m., another I-95 crash closed down two of four lanes on the southbound side near exit 61 in Cumberland County.
State troopers on the scene told a CBS 17 crew a woman was take to the hospital with minor injuries after “spinning out of control” on the ice. As this took place, a tractor trailer behind the woman slammed into her car.
The impact, troopers said, caused a second 18-wheeler to hit the car as well.
Another wreck a CBS 17 crew was on the scene of earlier in the day involved two drivers colliding head-on along Atlantic Avenue in Raleigh around 3 p.m.
Following this collision, multiple fire trucks and Raleigh police cruisers responded to the snowy scene near Millbrook Road. Police said a vehicle crossed over into the oncoming lane, sliding out of control due to the conditions.
In this crash, one person was taken to WakeMed Hospital with serious injuries. There has been no word on other injuries.
At approximately 10:44 p.m., Durham police said they responded to a crash involving a tractor trailer on I-85 south near US 70.
According to Durham police, the tractor trailer was traveling from US 70 and exiting onto I-85 south when the driver slid and struck a barrier, causing the vehicle to overturn. The driver was transported to a local hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
Police said the crash closed the two right lanes of I-85 south.
All North Carolinians have been urged by Governor Josh Stein and NCDOT officials to avoid driving unless absolutely necessary amid the dangerous conditions.
Sheriff Blackwood echoed this warning, saying, “Please stay home if you can, drive slowly if you can’t, and bring warm clothing with you. Chances are good you are going to end up roadside for quite some time, and the wait for a tow truck is long.”
