Hit-and-run that damaged train trestle to close Apex street for weeks

The crash occurred shortly before 10 a.m. at the CSX bridge in the 1600 block of North Salem Street, police said.

The rig was carrying a Komatsu motor grader, and the collision knocked the trestle partially off one of the concrete supports, putting a slight curve in the track above.

Crews working nearby said they heard a loud bang, and once they realized what happened, they blocked traffic from going under the bridge and called 911 to stop trains from using the track.

"I looked up and saw all the bridge and thought, if a train comes, it's going to kill people," said T "Iron T" Ayers. "I called the guys coming out of the building and told them to call 911 and call the trains and tell them to stop the train from coming down the track."

Police investigated the crash as a hit-and-run and were able to charge a driver by Monday afternoon. Rayvon Smith, 41 of Henderson, was charged with leaving the scene of an accident.

Salem Street is expected to remain closed in both directions near the bridge until at least late April, according to the state Department of Transportation.

Eastbound traffic is being routed onto Davis Drive and Salem Church Road to return to North Salem Street, while westbound motorists take that detour in reverse.

A CSX spokeswoman said all rail traffic has stopped on the line, and company inspectors are working with DOT to assess the damage to the trestle and tracks. Like Salem Street, the tracks will be closed for weeks.

The line runs between Apex and Durham, and one or two trains pass over the bridge each day, the spokeswoman said.