A pre-dawn commute turned tragic Thursday when a person was struck and killed on Interstate 40 near the Cary Towne Boulevard exit in Raleigh, according to police. The driver who hit the victim took off before officers arrived, and investigators have not yet released the victim's name. Several westbound lanes were shut down for hours while officers and crash investigators worked the scene.
Raleigh police are treating the case as a deadly hit-and-run, with early findings indicating the victim was hit on I-40 before the vehicle fled, as reported by ABC11. ABC11 crews were on scene as investigators documented the area, collected evidence and tried to piece together what led up to the collision near the Cary Towne Boulevard exit early Thursday.
What Happened And Timeline
Local coverage put the crash at around 2:30 a.m., with reporters describing a cluster of police vehicles and investigators working near the Cary Towne Boulevard exit, according to WRAL. WRAL reported that multiple westbound lanes were closed while officers processed the scene and that traffic lanes reopened later in the morning. Authorities urged anyone who might have seen something, or who passed through the area around that time, to contact Raleigh police.
How To Help Investigators
Officials are asking witnesses, nearby businesses and drivers with dash-cam or doorbell video to come forward to help fill in the gaps of what happened. The City of Raleigh lists the department's non-emergency number and an anonymous Crime Stoppers line for tips. According to the City of Raleigh, Crime Stoppers' anonymous tip line is 919-996-1193 and the police non-emergency number is 919-829-1911 for information that could assist investigators. Anyone with footage or details that might be relevant is asked to reach out through those channels so detectives can follow up.
A Pattern Of Overnight Collisions
This latest case fits into a troubling run of overnight fatal striking collisions in Raleigh this summer. The News & Observer reported on a June 13 hit-and-run on Buffaloe Road that left a man dead and remains under investigation. Coverage of the pedestrian left dead on Buffaloe Road detailed investigators' repeated calls for witnesses and camera footage in that case as well. No arrests have been announced in the I-40 investigation, which police say remains active.
