A major pile-up of vehicles on Interstate 40 in Orange County Wednesday afternoon left one person dead and several others injured, according to emergency services.
The North Carolina Highway Patrol said its troopers responded just before 3 p.m. to a multi-vehicle collision along I-40 westbound past the 259-mile marker, after two separate crashes near the I-40/I-85 exchange backed up traffic to the south of Hillsborough. Multiple vehicles then struck the stopped traffic from behind, creating another chain of collisions — one of which included a tractor trailer striking a passenger vehicle. The driver of the car, 78-year-old Jerolyn Day Wilson of Burlington, died as a result of injuries from the crash.
The State Highway Patrol said the driver of the tractor trailer, 44-year-old William Crowell Kellam, was arrested and charged Wednesday. He faces a charge of misdemeanor death by motor vehicle and exceeding a safe speed for conditions, and was issued a written promise to appear in court.
In total, state troopers reported 12 collisions happening within the immediate area of I-40 in northern Orange County between 53 vehicles. Orange Rural Fire Department similarly shared details about the pile-up on its Facebook page.
The crashes happened as snow continued to fall in the area as part of a passing winter storm, which created hazardously slick conditions on the roads, according to the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. Sheriff Charles Blackwood warned drivers traveling both Wednesday evening and overnight to stay off the roads as possible, describing rural, secondary and interstates as dangerous.
As of midnight on Thursday, traffic maps indicate westbound I-40 from Exit 261 in Hillsborough to the I-85 connector remains closed to traffic. Detours can be taken down Old Highway 86 to I-85 in Hillsborough before continuing west. Additional crashes, road closures and construction stretches can be found on DriveNC.gov.
Featured photo via AP Photo/Skip Foreman.
Chapelboro.com does not charge subscription fees, and you can directly support our efforts in local journalism here. Want more of what you see on Chapelboro? Let us bring free local news and community information to you by signing up for our newsletter.
Related Stories
‹
N.C. 86 Bridge in Hillsborough Re-Opens After RepairsThe North Carolina Highway 86 bridge over Interstate 85 in Hillsborough re-opened on Monday afternoon, according to a North Carolina Department of Transportation spokesperson. The bridge had been closed for repairs since May 31, when a tractor trailer carrying construction equipment struck and damaged a steel support. The NCDOT initially estimated repairs would be complete […]
Overnight Repairs Scheduled for N.C. 86 Bridge in HillsboroughContractors from the North Carolina Department of Transportation are planning for overnight closures along a section of Interstate 85 in Hillsborough to repair the North Carolina Highway 86 bridge. The southbound lanes of the interstate are set to close at Exit 165 from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. starting on Saturday, June 17. According to […]
NC 86 Overpass Partially Closed For Repairs; Likely to Last Several WeeksThe northbound lane of the N.C. Highway 86 bridge over Interstate 85 in Hillsborough will likely be closed for several weeks for repairs, according to a release from the town government. A steel support for the bridge under the northbound lane was damaged in an accident on May 31, when a tractor trailer carrying construction […]
Labor Day to Affect Local Government Services Around Orange County Community (2025)Monday marks the observance of Labor Day, which is meant to celebrate the contribution of workers and employees across the United States. With that, the local governments in Orange County will be giving many of their employees the day off, which will affect certain local government services. Ahead of the holiday on Monday, September 1, […]
Celebration of July 4 to Alter Local Government Services in Orange CountyThe celebration of Independence Day on Friday, July 4 will affect several local government services in and around Orange County. Here’s a look at what will and won’t be happening that week: Town of Chapel Hill All Chapel Hill administrative offices will be closed Friday. Residential trash pickup will not be affected. Commercial trash will […]
Orange Rural Fire Department Responds to Blaze at Hillsborough Storage FacilityThe Orange Rural Fire Department responded to a commercial structure fire at the Surety Storage facility in Hillsborough late Tuesday night. Surety Storage is located at 2707 North Carolina Highway 86 South. According to a release from the fire department, the first engine to arrive quickly reported smoke and fire conditions from “several” storage units […]
Hillsborough Man Wins More Than $500,000 From Lottery TicketDaniel Allison of Hillsborough won a $512,111 prize off of a $1 lottery ticket last week. Allison bought his ticket for the Cash 5 game online, then matched all five drawn numbers to win the jackpot. The odds of such a win are 1 in 962,598. Allison claimed his prize at the lottery headquarters in […]
Memorial Day to Affect Local Government Services Around Orange County (2025)The observation of Memorial Day on Monday, May 26 will affect multiple local government services around the Orange County community. Here’s a complete list of which services in which towns will be moved due to the holiday: Town of Chapel Hill Memorial Day is an official town holiday. Most town and other administrative offices will […]
Truck Crash on Interstate 85 South Closes Lane and Orange Grove Road in HillsboroughThe crash of a tractor-trailer truck on Interstate 85 South in Hillsborough is leading to major traffic delays and closures on Tuesday afternoon.
Highway Patrol: 1 Dead After 53-Vehicle Crash on Snowy I-40 in Orange CountyA major pile-up of vehicles on Interstate 40 in Orange County Wednesday afternoon left one person dead and several others injured, according to emergency services.
›
