On Sunday, March 13, 2016 the State Highway Patrol responded to a multi-vehicle collision on I-40 in Alamance County. Motorist traveling east failed to reduce their speed as heavy rains and fog caused driving conditions to quickly deteriorate. Investigators arrived to find four different collisions involving nearly 25 vehicles blocking all eastbound travel lanes of I-40 near the overpass of Jimmie Kerr Rd.
As emergency crews worked to clear the eastbound travel lanes, onlookers traveling west began to reduce speed. As a result, several multi-vehicle collisions occurred, stretching over a four mile portion of I-40 west. Troopers from Alamance, Guilford, and Orange Counties responded to assist along with the Alamance County Sheriff’s Department, Graham Police Department, and the Mebane Police Department. Several volunteer fire and EMS personnel from Alamance and surrounding counties also assisted.
Investigators contributed high speed, following too closely and inattention as causative factors due to the roadway conditions. The multi-collision event resulted in 134 vehicles damaged and 25 reported injuries. Motorist who were transported by EMS personnel from the scene were taken to Alamance Regional Medical Center. The westbound travel lanes of I-40 were reopened at approximately 10:30 p.m.
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