ROWAN COUNTY, N.C. — A portion of Interstate 85 in Rowan County near the Davidson County line was closed for hours Friday morning because of a fatal crash, troopers said.
The southbound lanes of I-85 were shut down around 6 a.m. near Salisbury at Exit 84, on the Yadkin River Bridge and didn’t reopen until 10:30 a.m.
The Highway Patrol said the crash involved a utility gas truck and a tractor-trailer.
UPDATE: Traffic is currently being detoured to exit 84 NC-150/US-29 but the backups form well before that. #Lexington #Salisbury #Rowan #Davidson https://t.co/xkck4Eu80h
— Traffic Team 9 (@TrafficTeam9) November 20, 2020
According to investigators, the gas truck collided with the back of the tractor-trailer, and the driver of the gas truck was thrown from the vehicle and died. That person’s name has not been released.
After the initial wreck, troopers said another tractor-trailer heading southbound collided with the tractor-trailer that was involved in the fatal crash. That driver had to be taken to the hospital but will be OK.
Then a third tractor-trailer hit the gas utility truck but did not stop.
Drivers were detoured onto Exit 84 to US-29 south and had to continue on US-29 to get back on I-85 south before the lanes were reopened.
Check back with wsoctv.com for updates on this story.
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