Preventable Tragedies
Abandoned car caused deadly tractor-trailer crash on I-485, troopers say
Officials said an abandoned car caused a deadly tractor-trailer crash that shut down Interstate 485 near Northlake for hours. The crash happened just before 10 a.m. Friday on the outer loop of I-485 north near West W.T. Harris Boulevard under the bridge at Northlake Centre Parkway. Troopers said a tractor-trailer heading northbound on I-485 hit an abandoned black car, flipped and burst into flames. The truck driver died at the scene.
Read MoreThree drivers hit, killed in two weeks after vehicle breakdowns
Three people have died since mid-September after getting hit on Triangle highway while checking on their cars after a breakdown. The most recent incident occurred Monday night on U.S. Highway 15/501 near Cornwallis Road in Durham. Danielle Noel, 30, had car trouble and was standing behind her 2000 Chevrolet Blazer, which was stopped in the right lane with the hazard lights on, when she was hit by a car that didn’t stop, police said.
Read MoreDriver slams into, kills woman standing next to broken down car with flashing lights on 15-501
A woman was pinned between vehicles, killing her in Durham hit-and-run overnight. Danielle Noel died after pulling over to the shoulder of US 15-501 northbound around 11:50 Monday night, according to Durham Police Department. Police say Noel got out of her Chevrolet Blazer near the Cornwallis Road intersection after it broke down.
Read MoreTraffic crash kills 13-year-old girl
“A semi with a dump-type trailer was parked along the roadway not moving with its hazard lights on,” Morris said. It was waiting there to be loaded with silage that was being cut in an adjacent field, he explained. A vehicle, driven by Stephanie Chase, 37, of Ithaca, ran into the back of the semi killing Mariah Chase, 13, on impact, Morris said.
Read MorePetara Cordero, girlfriend of Browns’ Chris Smith, killed in accident
Petara Cordero, the girlfriend of Browns defensive end Chris Smith, died Wednesday morning after a car accident on a Cleveland highway. According to a statement released by the Browns, Smith’s 2019 Lamborghini had a tire malfunction and spun into the median. Both Smith, who was driving, and Cordero, a passenger, exited the car without major injury. Cordero, 26, was then struck by an oncoming vehicle. Smith was not impaired, nor was he injured, police said.
Read MoreDecomposed body found days after crash in northwest Harris County
Deputies said the crash happened around 3 a.m. Friday on Windfern Road near Schooner Lane. Neighbors reported hearing a crash, but no vehicle was found, authorities said. The Harris County Sheriff’s Office said the driver of the older-model green Lexus was traveling southbound on Windfern but lost control of the vehicle while taking a sharp turn. Deputies said the vehicle went off the road, hit a turn warning sign, a guardrail and a chain-link fence before traveling about 65 feet into the wooded area.
Read MoreWB I-96 reopens near Kensington Rd. after 30-car pileup
A Westbound Interstate 96 has reopened near Kensington Road after being closed for nearly two hours in a pileup involving more than 30 vehic Michigan State Police said an initial crash was reported on the freeway at about 7:30 p.m. Tuesday and involved about 30 vehicles. A secondary crash was reported after traffic had stopped for the first crash.
Read MoreVideo shows 25-car pile-up in North Carolina
Video above shows a 25-car pile-up that happened Tuesday on I-40 near Raleigh. Traffic was backed up for six miles for nearly three hours. Seven people were injured. Weather is thought to be a contributing factor.
Read MoreSemi-truck driver, 23, arrested after 4 people are killed in fiery crash involving 28 vehicles on Colorado freeway
The 23-year-old semi-truck driver was heading down a hill when he slammed into traffic that had slowed due to a previous crash ahead of him, officials said. The collision in the Denver suburb of Lakewood started a chain reaction and a diesel fuel spill, Countryman earlier told the Denver Post. The fire was said to be so intense that it melted the roadway and the metal off cars. “This is looking to be one of the worst accidents we’ve had here in Lakewood,” he said.
Read More‘It was insane’ | Up to 17 cars involved in I-45 pileup caused by runaway tire
A runaway tire on I-45 North caused a big, multi-car pileup near downtown Houston early Thursday. It happened when a tire flew off a Jeep lost and landed in the middle of I-45 near Memorial Drive. Drivers swerving to miss the tire ended up crashing into each other. Other drivers didn’t see the tire and ran over it, damaging their vehicles with flat tires, busted bumpers — or worse.
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