Local

Rush hour crash on I-77 slows traffic

IREDELL COUNTY, N.C.,None — Thousands of drivers were stopped on I-77 Friday night during rush hour as emergency crews cleared a crash near Lake Norman.

All lanes of I-77 South were shut down for hours, and traffic on I-77 North stretched from Lake Norman to Huntersville.

Not only was traffic backed up for miles on the interstate, but all side streets were clogged up for hours as well.

Chopper Nine Skyzoom showed that several cars were badly damaged in the wreck. The rear end of one silver car was gone, and the back of a black car was smashed in.

Stacey Hess said she moved less than five miles in the hour between 6 and 7 p-m. Her in-laws are visiting from Michigan, and she was supposed to cook dinner.

"It's not looking real good. First impressions are (going to) be real well, with me running late and not there," Hess said. "My husband is not real happy."

At least four vehicles were involved in the crash. Eyewitness News saw a wrecker towing away a Budget rental truck with front-end damage.

The Highway Patrol hasn't told Eyewitness News how the crashes started. But the wrecker driver told Eyewitness News the Budget truck caused the crashes.

Mark Lancaster is a Lake Norman Marine commissioner, and he was stuck for hours Friday night as he tried to return to work and help his crew unload barges.

"It's kind of frustrating. I've got men on the clock, and I'm trying to get back down there and get back to work," Lancaster said.

Medic said one person is in the hospital tonight with potentially life-threatening injuries.