CHARLOTTE, N.C. — All lanes of Interstate 485 in north Charlotte are reopened after a deadly crash involving three cars and two trucks Friday morning.
It took about ten hours to get the roadway fully reopened.
The crash occurred around 7:30 a.m. when one of the cars collided with one of the trucks on the inner loop, which carries traffic from north Charlotte toward Concord, according to officials. This first collision caused the truck to cross over the center median and collide with a truck traveling in the opposite direction on the outer loop. This chain reaction then caused another car on the outer loop to crash into one of the trucks.
The result was an hours-long closure of the roadway near Mallard Creek Road, which is Exit 28.
The driver of one of the trucks died in the crash. He has been identified as Darrell Lee Buelin, of Yadkinville, North Carolina.
One other person was airlifted by helicopter in critical condition to the hospital. They have not been publically identified.
Four other people were evaluated but didn't go to the hospital.
The road was been closed for hours while crews worked to remove the wreckage and investigate the deadly crash. During the closure, traffic was backed up for miles in both directions and drivers were advised to avoid the area.
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