Update 9:30pm: A third person has died from injuries sustained in the crash. The names of the victims have not been released. The Highway Patrol says charges are pending.
Update 8:00pm: All lanes of Interstate 40 have reopened.
Update 5:20pm – The Highway Patrol says 9 vehicles were involved in the fatal crash. Troopers said the driver of a flatbed utility truck failed to reduce speed for traffic stopped for a prior wreck and struck several vehicles causing a chain-reaction of multiple vehicle crashes.
Update 3:58pm – The NC DOT says motorists who normally travel I-40 East for their commute home to Johnston County, McGee’s Crossroads and Benson should take an alternate route today. The DOT suggests using Highway 50, Cleveland Road, US 70, or exit off I-40 at the 312 mile marker and use Highway 42.
Update 2:55pm – One westbound lane of I-40 has reopened. Both eastbound lanes remain closed.
Update 2:00pm – NC DOT Detour Information: Eastbound I-40 traffic should take Exit 309 to US70 East to I-95 South to re-access I-40. Westbound motorists will detour at Exit 328 (I-95) to Exit 97 in Selma, then onto US70 West to re-enter I-40.
Update 1:50pm – 3 of the 6 people transported to the hospital are said to have critical injuries.
BENSON – Two people have been killed and approximately 6 others injured following a multi-vehicle accident on Interstate 40 in Johnston County. The crash was reported at Noon today (Wednesday) near the 319 mile marker near the Highway 210/McGee’s Crossroads Exit.
Approximately 10 vehicles were involved in the crash, including two tractor trailers in both the eastbound and westbound lanes of the interstate.
Ten ambulances responded to the crash and transported the injured victims to hospitals in Johnston and Wake counties.
Both eastbound and westbound lanes of I-40 have been shutdown. It will be several hours before the wreckage can be cleared and I-40 is fully reopened.
The cause of the crash is under investigation by the NC Highway Patrol. Stay tuned to WTSB AM1090 / FM 105.5 for updates throughout the afternoon. We will also update this story as we have more information.
