BREAKING: Avoid I-77 today
Fiery crash near uptown isn't expected to be cleared until after 4 p.m., NCDOT says
Good morning! Today is Tuesday, August 16, 2022, and we’re coming to you with BREAKING NEWS.
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Traffic on highway near uptown expected to be a mess all day
by Tony Mecia
A fiery wreck on I-77 near uptown Charlotte this morning is expected to leave a portion of the highway closed until after 4 p.m. today.
That means you might want to avoid going anywhere near I-77 in uptown today, as the effects of the wreck are going to radiate outward for hours.
As of 9 a.m., traffic maps showed cars backed up northbound as far as Nations Ford Road and southbound as far as I-85. That’s more than 7 miles each way.
The wreck is on I-85 north near the John Belk Freeway (I-277), but it is also affecting traffic headed south. The crash involved a tractor-trailer carrying produce.
The Charlotte Fire Department said the driver was able to exit the vehicle and was injured. One person was taken to the hospital with life-threatening injuries, WCNC reported.
Usually a lot of cars: I-77 at the John Belk Freeway carries more than 130,000 vehicles per day, according to figures from the N.C. Department of Transportation.
Stay safe out there.
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Executive editor: Tony Mecia; Managing editor: Cristina Bolling; Staff writer: Lindsey Banks; Contributing editor: Tim Whitmire, CXN Advisory; Contributing photographer/videographer: Kevin Young, The 5 and 2 Project