Traffic around Jones Sausage Road turned chaotic Friday afternoon when Raleigh police flooded the area off the Interstate 40 exit, surrounding a wrecked vehicle and sealing off the roundabout. Witnesses said officers quickly shut down the ramps while emergency crews pulled one person from a car and moved them into a waiting ambulance.
Raleigh police confirmed to WRAL that a Wells Fargo Bank on Western Boulevard was robbed around 9:30 a.m. The station reported that investigators were working to determine whether that robbery and the later crash near Jones Sausage Road were connected. The police presence on the ground included a heavy lineup of squad cars along with firetrucks, according to the outlet. As of their report, officials had not said whether anyone was in custody.
Interchange Already on Edge After Deadly Wreck
The same stretch of I-40 near the Jones Sausage Road exit has seen several serious crashes in recent months, a pattern that neighbors and local officials have flagged as traffic has picked up. In February, Hoodline detailed a Deadly I-40 crash at the interchange that left a passenger dead and sparked renewed scrutiny of the area.
That earlier investigation included public requests for dash-cam footage and raised questions about speed and road conditions at the exit. Friday's crash added another high-profile incident to a spot already under the microscope.
Police Seal Off Roundabout, Push Drivers Away
As officers converged on the scene, police blocked vehicles coming off I-40 and diverted traffic away from the Jones Sausage Road roundabout. Firefighters and what witnesses described as a large crew of officers shut down every approach to the exit, according to WRAL.
The Raleigh Police Department had not released a full count of injuries, any suspect descriptions, or word of arrests as of the station's latest update, and drivers were urged to avoid the area while crews worked to clear the scene. The department had not yet issued a detailed press release at the time of reporting, and investigators remained on site.
This story will be updated as officials release more information.
