HENDERSON COUNTY, N.C. (WLOS) — At approximately 7:45 a.m. on March 17, the North Carolina State Highway Patrol said a truck carrying traffic cones hit a bump on Interstate 26, which caused the cones to fall onto the road.
A tractor-trailer behind it slowed down trying to avoid the cones and hit another vehicle. After they both came to a stop, several other vehicles hit each other in a chain-reaction accident. The Highway Patrol said a total of 16 vehicles were involved.
This happened at the 55-mile marker on Interstate 26 East, according to the North Carolina State Highway Patrol.
Traffic was diverted at the U.S. 25 Connector, but the accident caused a major backup for morning commuters, as the portion of I-26 was shut down for about two and a half hours.
The North Carolina Department of Transportation reported the accident was at Mile Marker 55 Southeast of Hendersonville near Ozone Drive, shutting down Interstate 26 East. It was four miles before Exit 59.
We spoke with one of the drivers involved in the 16-car pileup.
Aaron Marquez said that area of the interstate constantly has stop and go traffic due to all of the ongoing construction, but this was an extreme situation.
“I heard a loud crash behind me and I look back and the 18-wheeler is just taking out multiple cars,” he explained.
He said it was scary how quick it all happened.
“It’s something like I’ve never seen before. It’s like what you see in movies and stuff, but it’s literally just an 18-wheeler clearing the way because it can’t stop,” he added.
Troopers said that there were a few injuries, but none that were life-threatening.