Westbound I-40 near Davis Drive in Durham
Updated 1 hr 33 mins ago
DURHAM COUNTY (WTVD) -- A fiery fatal accident involving at least four vehicles blocked for hours part of Interstate 40 near exit 280 in Durham County.
The accident happened around 9:55 a.m. in the westbound lanes of I-40 between Davis Drive and Miami Blvd.
Authorities said investigators believe a vehicle was stopped in one of the four lanes due to traffic when it was rear-ended by another vehicle. The crash caused a chain reaction of several other vehicles being rear-ended. As a result, one of the drivers involved died.
Emergency workers on the scene.
The impact then caused three of the vehicles to burst into flames. Authorities said they believed the person who was killed was removed from their vehicle by a by-stander before it became engulfed. Their identity has not been released.
Video courtesy Chris Wooldridge
All westbound lanes are currently closed as investigators continue their investigation.
Traffic is currently being diverted on the 280 mile-marker ramp and then back down the ramp back onto I-40. Drivers are being urged to take exit 282 to NC-54 to NC-55 to re-access I-40 west.