Troopers: 2 hurt after fiery tractor-trailer crash in Catawba Co.

CATAWBA COUNTY, N.C. (WBTV) - A Catawba County highway has reopened after a fiery tractor-trailer had the road shut down overnight and into Friday morning.

The crash on Highway 16 near Buffalo Shoals Road was first reported by the Bandys Fire Department shortly before midnight.

Firefighters said the crash involved at least four vehicles and brought power lines down into the roadway.

A 2023 Toyota Corolla heading north on N.C. 16 ran a red light at the intersection and struck a 2011 Honda Accord that was turning left from Buffalo Shoals Road, according to the North Carolina State Highway Patrol.

Both cars wound up in the northbound lanes of N.C. 16, and a 2010 Honda Civic struck the Accord two minutes after the initial crash, troopers said. The driver of the Civic was able to pull off to the shoulder of roadway after the collision.

Troopers said a tractor-trailer then struck the two disabled vehicles on N.C. 16, causing the truck and Corolla to collide with a power pole and electric cables.

The power pole fell, striking the tractor-trailer and starting a fire, according to the highway patrol. Flames then spread to the Corolla. The truck driver and two people passing by got the driver out of the burning Corolla, troopers said.

That driver was critically injured and flown by medical helicopter to Atrium Health Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte with life-threatening injuries, according to information from the highway patrol.

The driver of the tractor-trailer and the driver of the Civic were not hurt in the crash, troopers said. They added that the driver of the Accord was

The highway had been closed in both directions and reopened around 9:30 a.m., state troopers said.

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