Highway back open after Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officer killed in crash on I-85 South

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (WBTV) - I-85 southbound where a Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officer was killed has reopened after hours of it being shut down.

A Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officer was killed in a crash involving a tractor-trailer on Interstate 85 early in the morning.

The crash happened around 3:30 a.m. and closed Interstate 85 South near W.T. Harris Boulevard for hours.

An update from transportation officials said I-85 South reopened shortly after 4 p.m. at Exit 48, Interstate 485, due to the crash.

Transportation officials said travelers should still expect congestion in the area.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Johnny Jennings announced Wednesday morning that Ofc. Mia Goodwin was killed in the crash. She was an officer in the department’s University City Division.

Related: CMPD chief announces passing of Ofc. Mia Goodwin after I-85 traffic crash

Police say the person driving the tractor-trailer was injured and remains hospitalized.

First responders described the crash as a “serious” accident that would have investigators on scene for hours Wednesday morning.

According to the CMPD, officers were called to a crash late Tuesday night involving an overturned semi-truck, hauling grain, on I-85 southbound at West WT Harris Boulevard that spilled a load of grain onto the interstate. The North Carolina State Highway Patrol and the Charlotte Fire Department responded to assist with potential hazardous material, investigators said.

At 1:03 a.m., a travel lane was opened to allow southbound traffic to bypass the accident, according to the CMPD. Traffic cones were deployed around the work crew and police vehicles with emergency equipment were activated.

Around 3:39 a.m., a semi-truck with a trailer that was heading southbound collided with a second semi-truck, which caused them to strike multiple CMPD vehicles, officers said.

According to the CMPD, Goodwin was pronounced dead on the scene by Medic minutes later due to injuries she sustained. Additionally, three other officers were taken to Atrium Main where they were treated and released, officials said. They were identified as Shannon Foster, Sean Husk and Jackson Buffington.

Drivers were asked to avoid the area, as the road was expected to be shut down for hours.

According to the CMPD, all southbound traffic was diverted off at Mallard Creek Church Road. These were some additional detours to consider to avoid the crash:

• Take the inner loop of Interstate 485 all the way down to Hwy. 29 (North Tryon Street) and then take North Tryon Street on into the I-85/Hwy. 29 connector
• Take the outer loop of I-485 to Interstate 77 and then take I-77 South if you’re heading into uptown Charlotte

Concord Police told drivers to expect heavy delays and traffic around Exit 52 and Exit 49 on I-85 South due to the lane closures.

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