GASTON COUNTY, N.C. — A stretch of southbound Interstate 85 is back open after a crash involving a tractor-trailer and a downed tree, Gastonia police said.
The crash happened on the southbound side of I-85 near Exit 19, which is for North Carolina Highway 7. Gastonia Police said traffic was diverted onto Ozark Avenue while crews worked to clear the highway. The road was reopened by the time WCNC Charlotte's crew got to the scene around 10 a.m.
Tropical Storm Helene caused widespread damage across the Charlotte area Friday morning, toppling trees and knocking down power lines. Over 1 million Duke Energy customers are still without power, while South Carolina had the most outages nationwide, according to state officials.