HAYWOOD COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA — Traffic along Interstate 40 near the Tennessee–North Carolina state line came to a complete standstill Friday evening after a multi-vehicle crash involving a horse trailer forced authorities to close the highway in both directions for several hours.
I-40 Shut Down in Both Directions
According to the North Carolina Highway Patrol, the crash happened just before 7 p.m. Friday near mile marker 3, when a Ford dually truck pulling a horse trailer lost control while traveling westbound toward Tennessee.
Traffic alerts from the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) showed eastbound lanes were shut down near mile marker 3, while westbound lanes were closed near Cold Springs Creek Road, roughly four miles past Exit 7.
The closures caused a major traffic backup through Haywood County as emergency responders worked to clear the scene.
Truck Crossed Median, Hit Three Cars
Troopers said the Ford truck crossed over the eight-inch concrete median barrier, entering the opposite lanes and striking three vehicles traveling eastbound into North Carolina…