News

Multi-vehicle crash shuts down I-26 East at Green River bridge

By Bill Moss, Published: September 18, 2024

A fatal multi-vehicle crash Wednesday morning on the Green River bridge has shut down I-26 East at Exit 54, the sheriff's office said. Traffic is being diverted onto the U.S. 25 Connector. The interstate will be shut down for an extended period of time today and drivers should plan alternate routes and allow extra travel time. The crash involved two tractor-trailers and resulted in at least one fatality, WLOS-Ch. 13 reported.

Blue Ridge Fire & Rescue Chief Will Sheehan said the crash created a huge mess because a tar truck involved in the crash spilled its load onto the highway.

“The Highway Patrol is still trying to reconstruct everything and figure out exactly what happened,” he said. “A semi and smaller truck hauling tar were involved in a crash with four other vehicles. The vehicle hauling tar actually rolled over and spilled all over the interstate so that was a big mess.”

The crash killed the driver of the tar truck, which had markings from out of state, the chief said. One other person was treated at the scene and transported to a hospital.

“There was still aid being rendered at the scene and en route to the hospital,” Sheehan said of that victim.

Blue Ridge sent six trucks and 10 firefighters to the crash while Saluda dispatched two trucks and about five firefighters, Sheehan said.

The tar was not hot but more of a sludge that might be applied as a layer under a coat of asphalt.  “It was standing and pooling all over the interstate,” he said. “It was quite a mess.”

He credited the Highway Patrol, NCDOT, Henderson County EMS and Rescue Squad for their response.

“They did a great job,” he said.