I-40 east lanes reopen in Sampson County day after fiery tanker crash

NEWTON GROVE, N.C. (WTVD) -- A fiery early morning crash on I-40 east involving a tanker is still under investigation, but the area has reopened.

The crash happened just before 6 a.m. Tuesday and led to the closure of all lanes of I-40 east near the NC 403 exit, just outside of Newton Grove in Sampson County.

This section of I-40 East from exit 348 to exit 355 reopened on Wednesday, the Highway Patrol told ABC11. Westbound lanes were not affected.

The fiery collision

A preliminary investigation by the NC State Highway Patrol (NCSHP) revealed that a tanker driver hauling fuel hit a slow-moving car from behind, causing the tanker to overturn in the eastbound lanes.

NCSHP says two other tractor-trailer drivers hit the tanker, causing minor damage. However, a pickup truck driver who swerved to avoid colliding with the overturned tanker still made contact and that caused it to catch fire, troopers say.

A box truck swerved to the left to avoid the overturned tractor-trailer, hit the median cables, and stopped in the median.

The driver of the overturned tanker was airlifted from the scene with injuries. Two other drivers were taken to local hospitals with minor injuries.

The overturned tractor-trailer had around 4,000 gallons of fuel left in the tank after some burned off in the fire.