The crash began just before 7 p.m., but both directions of I-40 were reopened to traffic by 8:54 p.m., according to the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT).
Collision Details and Cause
The crash occurred in a fragile section of the interstate that had been operating under severe limitations—one lane in each direction with a temporary 35 mph speed limit—due to extensive prior damage from Hurricane Helene.
The North Carolina Highway Patrol reported that the incident was caused by a Ford dually pickup truck pulling a horse trailer with one horse inside. The truck, traveling westbound toward Tennessee, was reportedly exceeding the 35 miles per hour speed limit. The driver then lost control, crossed the eight-inch median barrier, and collided with three cars traveling in the eastbound lanes.
The closure was implemented quickly due to the immediate safety risk created by the crash on the already compromised road structure. Traffic alerts from NCDOT indicated the eastbound lanes were closed near mile marker 3 and the westbound lanes were closed near Cold Springs Creek Road, four miles past Exit 7.
Driver Cited by Highway Patrol
The driver of the dually truck was cited by the North Carolina Highway Patrol for two offenses related to the collision:
Exceeding the speed limit of 35 miles per hour.
Failure to maintain lane control.
Area Prone to Closures
This stretch of I-40 through the Pigeon River Gorge has been under stress and subject to intermittent closures for construction and emergency repairs for months, particularly following the extensive damage caused by Hurricane Helene in late 2024.
WNCTimes
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