JUNE 1, 2015
MATTHEWS, N.C.
A crash involving a federal Homeland Security agent shut
down a major instate in Matthews Monday morning during the peak of rush hour.
An SUV was sandwiched when it was hit from both sides. Witnesses said the driver of a Homeland Security SUV was to blame. The 3-car crash backed up traffic on the Interstate 485 inner loop for hours.
"Very scary," one witness told Channel 9.
Officials said it all started because of a separate accident that caused traffic to slow and back up.
Tommy Racano was rear-ended by a minivan that swerved off the road to avoid a greater impact. He called police and moments later he said the Homeland Security SUV slammed into the back of a maroon SUV, which then hit another car.
"It caused a chain reaction," said Chris Tamilia, who witnessed the crash.
Multiple witnesses Channel 9 spoke with believed the driver of the Homeland Security SUV was to blame.
"[I] could only speculate but I'd say it's safe to say he wasn't paying attention because it was obviously time to slow down and he definitely didn't slow down enough to stop from hitting someone in front of him, so obviously he wasn't paying attention," Racano said.
The Homeland Security SUV is marked as Federal Protective Service. Channel 9 learned those agents protect federal facilities, their occupants and visitors. The agent's name hasn't been released.
The three drivers involved in the crash were taken to the hospital but officials said their injuries are not life-threatening.
"When you look at the kind of crunch that happened over there, it obviously could've been a lot worse," Racano said.
The interstate reopened around 10 a.m. and troopers are investigating the crash.
An SUV was sandwiched when it was hit from both sides. Witnesses said the driver of a Homeland Security SUV was to blame. The 3-car crash backed up traffic on the Interstate 485 inner loop for hours.
"Very scary," one witness told Channel 9.
Officials said it all started because of a separate accident that caused traffic to slow and back up.
Tommy Racano was rear-ended by a minivan that swerved off the road to avoid a greater impact. He called police and moments later he said the Homeland Security SUV slammed into the back of a maroon SUV, which then hit another car.
"It caused a chain reaction," said Chris Tamilia, who witnessed the crash.
Multiple witnesses Channel 9 spoke with believed the driver of the Homeland Security SUV was to blame.
"[I] could only speculate but I'd say it's safe to say he wasn't paying attention because it was obviously time to slow down and he definitely didn't slow down enough to stop from hitting someone in front of him, so obviously he wasn't paying attention," Racano said.
The Homeland Security SUV is marked as Federal Protective Service. Channel 9 learned those agents protect federal facilities, their occupants and visitors. The agent's name hasn't been released.
The three drivers involved in the crash were taken to the hospital but officials said their injuries are not life-threatening.
"When you look at the kind of crunch that happened over there, it obviously could've been a lot worse," Racano said.
The interstate reopened around 10 a.m. and troopers are investigating the crash.