BENSON – Interstate 95 near Benson was closed for two and a half hours Tuesday morning due to a three vehicle crash at the 79 mile marker.
According to the Highway Patrol, a southbound driver may have fallen asleep before drifting off the right side of the interstate then skidding back across the southbound lanes, crashing over the median guardrails, overturning and entering the northbound lanes.
The red pickup truck immediately collided with a northbound U-Haul van and a small SUV. All three vehicles ended up off the roadway, leaving a large amount of debris blocking both northbound lanes.
The pickup driver was ejected from his vehicle and suffered life-threatening injuries. The other drivers were also injured. All three drivers were transported to Wake Med.
Alcohol was suspected to be a contributing factor in the 12:30 am crash. Traffic was detoured until 3:00am causing long delays for travelers heading north.
Benson and Elevation Fire Departments responded to the seen along with Johnston County Sheriff’s Deputies and NC Highway Patrol Troopers and Johnston County EMS units.
