Tractor-trailers collide, burn causing I-95 North to be blocked

Jun. 19—LUMBERTON — State Highway Patrol officials are attributing a Friday afternoon wreck on Interstate 95 involving two tractor-trailers to engine failure.

First responders were on scene of the wreck on I-95 North near the South Carolina border before 5 p.m. One rig was blocking both lanes of travel. The condition of the drivers was not known Friday as of 6 p.m.

"There is two tractor-trailers overturned at the 6-mile marker northbound," 1st Sgt. S.B. Lewis, of the State Highway Patrol, said just after troopers arrived on the scene.

Some of the N.C. Department of Transportation's Incident Management Assistance Patrol program members were providing traffic diversion about 5:45 p.m., according to Lewis. The Highway Patrol was dispatched to the scene about 4:25 p.m.

Lewis said preliminary investigation indicates both tractor-trailers were traveling beside each other when the collision occurred.

"The vehicle in the right lane experienced engine failure, causing the driver to lose control and strike the second commercial motor vehicle," Lewis said.

"Both vehicles overturned and caught fire," he added.

One of the vehicles came to rest off the roadway to the right, and the other continued to block traffic.

"Both vehicles burned completely," Lewis said. "No hazardous materials were involved."

To get around the wreck, motorists must take Exit 2 ( NC-130), turn left on N.C. 130 West, then turn right onto U.S. 301 North and North Bond Street, according to a NCDOT detour posted to drivenc.gov. Motorists then must continue to follow U.S. 301 North to turn right onto Raynham Road and return to I-95 North.

No further details were released.