It happened just before 8:30 a.m. near the Cornwallis exit.
Police said the person who was killed was in a pickup truck.
The truck apparently hit a tractor trailer, as well as two other vehicles.
Upon hitting the tractor trailer, the tail bed of the pickup truck was ripped off.
Traffic was at a standstill for hours after the wreck.
Serious accident closes Durham Freeway near Cornwallis exit
The identity of the person who was killed has not been released.