An overhead sign on Interstate 77 collapsed on a car in Charlotte late Friday and early Saturday, trapping the driver and blocking the southbound lanes for seven hours, according to firemen and state highway officials.
The driver and another person were hospitalized with significant injuries, according to Charlotte Fire Department officials, who shared photographs of the wreck on social media.
It was unclear what caused the sign to collapse or whether the second victim was in the injured driver’s automobile or another vehicle. Fire authorities did not specify in their tweet, and a State Highway Patrol representative has yet to respond to a request for additional information.
According to WSOC, the collapse was triggered by a collision.
Fire engines and other rescuers respond to the scene.
According to the Charlotte Fire Department’s social media post, Engine 12 arrived within minutes, confirmed the entrapment, and began patient treatment.
“Ladder 20, which went into service earlier this month, and Rescue 10 worked together to free the driver, completing a complex extrication in under 30 minutes,” according to fire officials.
According to officials, other responders, including the USAR search and rescue team, assisted in maintaining control of the area.
“Despite the cold conditions and the challenging scene, Charlotte Fire crews worked with precision and teamwork to manage the incident safely and protect everyone on scene,” according to the fire department’s post.
Detour and unresolved questions.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police reported on social media site X that traffic was detoured onto Nations Ford Road around 11 p.m. Police asked drivers to take alternate routes.
The North Carolina Department of Transportation reported that the route had reopened around 5:45 a.m.
The injured patients were transported to Atrium Health Carolinas Medical Center, MEDIC reported on X.
The State Highway Patrol did not say how many automobiles were involved or what kind of vehicles. They did not explain what caused the incident or whether any of the drivers were inebriated. They did not reveal the names, ages, or ailments of anyone involved.
