HENDERSON COUNTY, N.C. – On March 17, at about 7:45 a.m., the North Carolina State Highway Patrol reported that a truck carrying traffic cones hit a bump on Interstate 26, causing the cones to tumble onto the road.
A tractor-trailer behind it slowed to avoid the cones and collided with another car. After they came to a stop, many additional vehicles collided in a chain reaction accident. The Highway Patrol stated that 16 automobiles were involved.
The North Carolina State Highway Patrol reported that this occurred at the 55-mile marker on Interstate 26 East.
Traffic was rerouted at the U.S. 25 Connector, but the collision produced a significant backlog for morning commuters, as a part of I-26 was closed for approximately two and a half hours.
The North Carolina Department of Transportation reported that the accident occurred at Mile Marker 55 Southeast of Hendersonville near Ozone Drive, closing Interstate 26 East. It was four kilometers before Exit 59.
We spoke with one of the drivers involved in the 16-car collision.
Aaron Marquez stated that the region of the interstate was constantly congested owing to the continuing work, but this was an extreme case.
“I heard a loud crash behind me and I look back and the 18-wheeler is just taking out multiple cars,” according to him.
He stated it was terrifying how quickly everything happened.
“This is something I’ve never seen before. It’s similar to what you see in movies, but it’s actually simply an 18-wheeler clearing the way because it can’t stop,” he explained.
Troopers stated that there were a few injuries, but none were life-threatening.
Reference: Highway Patrol: Chain-reaction crash causes 16-vehicle pileup near Peter Guice Bridge
