A section of Interstate 40 in Johnston County was shut down for nearly 5 hours Tuesday following a collision between a tractor trailer and a box truck. It happened in the eastbound lanes of I-40 at the 334 mile marker, near the NC96 / Meadow Exit.
According to the NC Highway Patrol, the driver of a flatbed tractor-trailer was parked on the right shoulder when he attempted to merge onto I-40 east. As the driver pulled into the far right lane, a box style truck slammed into the back of the flatbed.
The driver and passenger in the box truck were pinned in the wreckage for more than an hour. Both were extricated and then transported to Wake Medical Center with serious injuries.
The driver of the tractor trailer, Larry Eugene Kelly of Durham, was not injured.
The driver of the box truck has been identified as Jason Smithey of McLeansville, NC. The identity of the passenger has not been released.
Eastbound lanes of I-40 were reopened around Noon.
Charges are pending. Photos by JoCoFire.com
