A car went airborne off the Six Forks Road overpass and landed on I-540 in North Raleigh early Saturday, knocking down power poles, sparking a brief fire in nearby woods and shutting down lanes in both directions for hours. Emergency crews responded to the interchange around 1:30 a.m.; the crash was reported around 1:45 a.m., according to the Raleigh Police Department.
The driver was taken to a hospital with injuries, though their status was unknown, according to WRAL. That account differs from CBS 17, which reported that injury information was not available. A North Carolina State Highway Patrol official said the car was the only vehicle involved in the crash, ruling out a multi-car pileup at the interchange.
Power Lines Down, Fire Quickly Doused
The car struck at least two power poles at the Six Forks Road and I-540 interchange, according to the Raleigh Fire Department. The impact also knocked out nearby traffic lights and ignited a fire in the woods next to the overpass, but the station's report notes that fire crews put the flames out quickly. Power crews were dispatched Saturday morning to begin repairing the downed lines and poles.
Several emergency crews converged on the scene around 1:30 a.m. Saturday, per the same account. The Raleigh Fire Department sent one unit to the crash, while additional fire and rescue crews were supplied by the county to help manage the response.
Lane Closures and Lingering Questions
Six Forks Road and the westbound I-540 on-ramp onto it were shut down while crews worked the scene, and State Highway Patrol said responders were expected to remain out there until around 8 a.m. Saturday. North Carolina State Highway Patrol is investigating the crash, according to the Raleigh Police Department. CBS 17 said it reached out to both state troopers and the Wake County Sheriff's Office for more information as the investigation continued.
The cause of the crash has not been determined, and it remains unclear whether the driver will face any charges. A separate crash on the same corridor, in which an RV struck a light pole on Six Forks Road between Lynn and Millbrook roads, also drew a WRAL report, though police said there were no serious injuries in that earlier incident.
