CLAYTON – The driver of an eastbound Ford Explorer on NC42 East Tuesday afternoon, who witnesses had reported to have been driving erratically prior to the accident, slammed into the rear of a vehicle stopped for a red light in the left turn lane in front of the CVS at Buffalo Road. That vehicle was then shoved into the rear of the stopped car in front of it.
The teenage driver in the heavily damaged Hyundai, which had become sandwiched between the other two cars, was uninjured but the driver of the Mazda CX-9 SUV in front of him and the Ford driver both suffered apparent injuries.
The Explorer driver was initially found to be unresponsive in the driver’s seat following the crash but Northside firefighters were able to make access to him by smashing a window on his locked SUV. He and the Mazda driver were rushed to Wake Med.
Because the cars were so tightly stuck together, firefighters used a jaws of life rescue tool to successfully separate the Explorer and Hyundai from each other.
The Ford driver faces multiple charges—once he is located. According to authorities, the individual left the hospital prior to the arrival of the investigating NC State Highway Patrol trooper.
