Wreck along I-40 in McDowell County causes traffic delays

MCDOWELL COUNTY, N.C. (WLOS) — A wreck involving two tractor-trailers and an SUV temporarily shut down westbound lanes of Interstate 40 on Wednesday, troopers say.

The wreck happened just before 1 p.m., near Catawba Avenue in McDowell County.

Trooper Rico Stephens, of the North Carolina Highway Patrol, said the incident started when one tractor-trailer traveling in the left lane nearly hit another tractor-trailer in the far right lane while changing lanes, causing the tractor-trailer in the right lane onto the shoulder.

Stephens said the tractor-trailer that left the roadway then jackknifed, and the trailer stopped across the interstate and blocked several westbound lanes.

That's when, according to Stephens, an SUV that was traveling behind the tractor-trailers crashed into the trailer.

No injuries were reported in the wreck, and two westbound lanes have reopened as of Wednesday afternoon.

Stephens said charges are pending the outcome of an investigation.