HENDERSONVILLE, N.C. (828newsnow) —
A fiery, non-injury crash on Interstate 26 caused major headaches for thousands of motorists on Tuesday morning in Hendersonville, where detoured traffic clogged city streets well into the afternoon.
The driver of a tractor-trailer was cited failure to maintain lane control after the 7 a.m. crash kept parts of the busy interstate closed for several hours.
The N.C. Department of Transportation website said the wreck happened just after 7 a.m. near Exit 49.
The tractor-trailer was traveling westbound near Exit 49 when the driver lost control in the construction zone and ran into the back of a crash truck barrier, North Carolina State Highway Patrol Trooper Brandon Bingle said.
“It opened up his gas tank. He continued down the road, and the vehicle caught fire,” the trooper said.
Michael Watson, 25, of Georgia, was cited in the crash.
No injuries were reported, Bingle said.
The highway was closed in both directions as the fire was extinguished and the crash scene cleared. Eastbound lanes reopened about 11 a.m. By about 12:30 p.m., only the right westbound lane remained closed.
“We are seeing large amounts of heavy traffic in Hendersonville and surrounding thoroughfares. Please use caution when traveling through the city due to additional traffic congestion,” the Hendersonville Police Department said in a news alert Tuesday morning.
