Early Thursday, an overturned tractor-trailer turned a busy stretch of I-85 into a gridlock zone, shutting down two southbound lanes near Exit 79 at Andrews Street in Rowan County and leaving at least one person dead as traffic stacked up for miles between Winston-Salem and Charlotte.
Emergency crews stayed on scene while investigators worked around the wreckage and tried to get the main artery between the two cities moving again.
Troopers with the North Carolina State Highway Patrol told WCNC the crash happened near Exit 79 at Andrews Street and involved an overturned tractor-trailer, and that at least one person was killed. The agency said two southbound lanes were blocked while crews worked the scene and directed traffic around the shutdown.
Authorities urged drivers to slow down, follow instructions from personnel on site and be prepared for a crawl through the area. Troopers initially estimated the highway could reopen by about 7 a.m., although towing and cleanup kept the morning commute inching along.
Problem stretch strikes again
This part of I-85 has a track record of serious trouble. In November 2023, a tractor-trailer fire near Exit 79 shut lanes for hours, according to WBTV. Across North Carolina, truck fires and overturns on I-85 have repeatedly triggered long closures that ripple through the Charlotte–Winston-Salem corridor, as WRAL reported after a separate incident in February.
In Thursday’s crash, at least one death was confirmed, but troopers had not yet released the victim’s name and investigators had not immediately given a cause. Agencies responding included the highway patrol, Rowan County emergency crews and NCDOT teams handling cleanup and traffic control.
Drivers in the area should expect lingering backups and check local traffic services before heading out while crews finish clearing the scene. This story will be updated as authorities release more information.
