An overturned tractor-trailer shut down the eastbound lanes of Interstate 42 at Exit 7 in Johnston County on Monday afternoon, killing at least one person and turning the evening commute into a crawl. The wreck happened around 2 p.m., and crews were still working the scene hours later.
According to ABC11 Raleigh-Durham, the eastbound lanes were closed after the truck flipped, and officials confirmed at least one fatality. The North Carolina Department of Transportation expected the roadway to reopen by 7 p.m. while investigators worked to determine whether stormy weather played a role in the crash.
Where It Happened
The closure was at Exit 7, Ranch Road, on the stretch of U.S. 70 that the N.C. Department of Transportation re-signed as I-42 during a renumbering project last year. In a 2025 press release, the N.C. Department of Transportation detailed the redesignation of a 10-mile segment through the Clayton area as I-42 to improve routing and freight connectivity.
Traffic And Response
State and local crews remained on scene into the evening, and traffic was routed onto nearby local roads, creating delays for drivers moving through the Clayton area. ABC11 Raleigh-Durham reports that investigators were on site and authorities were working to determine what caused the tractor-trailer to overturn.
Local Context
Johnston County has dealt with several weather-related crashes this winter. The State Highway Patrol reported responding to dozens of collisions during a February storm, according to JoCo Report. Officials have urged drivers to be cautious in poor conditions, although they have not connected those earlier incidents to Monday's deadly wreck.
Authorities have not yet released the names of the victims or additional details about contributing factors as the investigation continues. Hoodline will update this story when state or local officials provide more information or confirm that the roadway has fully reopened.
