Crash shuts down I-40/I-85 in Orange County

ORANGE COUNTY (WTVD) -- A crash shut down part of Interstate 40/ Interstate 85 in Orange County for hours early Thursday morning.

Traffic was backed up for over a mile along westbound I-40 and southbound I-85 after a tractor trailer rear-ended another tractor trailer near mile marker 155.

One of the truck drivers was taken to Alamance Regional Medical Center with minor injuries.

According to authorities, a tractor trailer carrying "medical material" caused the collision just before 3 a.m. when it slammed into the back of a tractor trailer carrying steel that stopped for traffic ahead.

Debris was strewn about, and one of the big rigs straddled all four southbound lanes of the highway.

Two minor crashes occurred east of the original one due to the heavy traffic.

All four lanes of the highway were reopened just after 7 a.m.

The driver of the second truck was charged with failure to reduce speed, and reckless driving.