Over the weekend, a multi-vehicle pileup wreaked havoc on Interstate 85 northbound in Kannapolis, leading to more than 100 vehicles becoming stranded. The issue began with a minor crash near exit 60 for Dale Earnhardt Boulevard, according to WCNC Charlotte, which caused a significant traffic disruption as dozens of tractor-trailers and more than 70 cars found themselves unable to move.
The pileup's clearing involved the North Carolina National Guard, NC Department of Transportation, and local emergency management, who worked together to navigate through the gridlock caused by freezing temperatures and a considerable snowfall that left large vehicles unable to gain traction. In a display of woes inflicting the area, North Carolina State Highway Patrol reported to ABC11 that responders addressed up to 750 collisions from midnight to 6 p.m. on Saturday.
The roadway was eventually opened around 9:30 p.m., several hours after the initial incident, with significant efforts from multiple agencies including the National Guard's All-Hazard Response Teams, "which included six vehicles and 12 people from the Army and Air National Guard," as informed by officials to ABC11. The exact cause of the collision remains unknown, but the aftermath was clear: a standstill that seized a section of one of North Carolina's major highways.
NCDOT snowplows helped clear stranded vehicles on the interstate, according to WRAL. Up to nine inches of snow in some areas complicated recovery, highlighting the severe winter conditions. Despite the delays, no injuries or fatalities were reported.
