BENSON – A major traffic accident has closed eastbound Interstate 40 in Johnston County. The crash was reported around 1:30pm today (Wednesday) near the 325 mile marker, about three miles west of the I-95 interchange.
According to the State Highway Patrol, an empty tractor trailer was traveling westbound when it swerved into the median, through a guard cable, and into the eastbound lanes. The truck collided with an eastbound tractor trailer loaded with garbage. Both trucks overturned across the eastbound lanes.
Johnston County Report Photo 
Johnston County Report Photo 
Johnston County Report Photo 
Johnston County Report Photo 
Johnston County Report Photo 
Johnston County Report Photo 
Johnston County Report Photo 
Johnston County Report Photo 
Johnston County Report Photo 
Johnston County Report Photo 
Johnston County Report Photo 
Johnston County Report Photo 
Johnston County Report Photo
Several vehicles in the eastbound lanes slammed on brakes to avoid the overturned trucks. A chain reaction collision was reported between some vehicles as they avoiding the first accident.
Both semi drivers sustained non-life threatening injuries and were transported to WakeMed. The at-fault driver reportedly did not have a commercial driver’s license (CDL). He is facing a number of charges.
Westbound lanes of I-40 remain open but there are onlooker delays. Eastbound lanes are closed and traffic is being detoured off the interstate at Exit 325.
Eastbound lanes are expected to be closed through at least 6:00pm.
It would be nice to know why the truck swerved into the median in the first place. Did the driver fall asleep or have a medical problem? Mechanical failure? Inattention?
Quite often this sort of thing is caused by another driver who drives on unscathed and uncaught. Everyone should have a dash cam.
Here you go… https://www.ncdps.gov/careers-matter/state-highway-patrol-careers
If he didn’t have his CDL he should NOT have been driving a tractor trailer unless he was in a training situation with an instructor in the trailer too which it doesn’t appear to be the situation.
The west bound right lane was closed. WRAL said he failed to slow down, went into the median and through the guard rail.
Another example of the cable barriers used in our state failing to do their job. There has to be a better system out there. Had that been a passenger car that the tractor-trailer collided with, the more likely it would have been a fatal collision.