A multi-vehicle collision has taken place in west Charlotte this morning causing significant disruptions and injuries, as reported by local authorities. According to Queen City News, at least four individuals have been injured in the incident that involved at least nine vehicles. The collision occurred on Wilkinson Boulevard at Old Dowd Road around 8:50 a.m.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) has urged drivers to actively avoid the area and has suggested an alternative route via Moores Chapel Road to I-85 to bypass the affected stretch. "Due to a multi-vehicle accident, Wilkinson Blvd. is closed in both directions from Belmont to Old Dowd Road," CMPD said in a statement obtained by Queen City News. Traffic has been reported to back up to the Catawba River Bridge as a result of the closure.
WCNC has confirmed the presence of multiple emergency response agencies on site, including CMPD and Charlotte Fire. The debris and rescue operations have necessitated the complete shutdown of the inbound lanes of Wilkinson Boulevard. The police have yet to provide a timeline for when the road might reopen.
The specifics of what led up to the collision are currently still under investigation, and authorities are working to definitively establish if there were additional casualties beyond the four reported thus far. "Due to a multi-vehicle accident, Wilkinson Blvd. is closed in both directions from Belmont to Old Dowd Road. Please allow extra time and seek an alternate route if coming to CLT airport," authorities advised, as reported by Queen City News. This heavy traffic disruption comes as a blow to morning commuters and those accessing the Charlotte Douglas International Airport nearby.
Authorities continue to probe into the multi-vehicle pileup, and further updates are expected as the investigation progresses.
