Police On Lookout For Tan-Colored Honda After Accident Shuts Down I-40 In Durham

The accident happened at 10:12 a.m. A woman driving the Honda attempted to merge on to I-40 East from the N.C. 54 exit ramp and crashed into several construction barrels.

Several barrels rolled onto the highway, causing the drivers of several cars to slam on brakes.

The Honda pulled in front of an eastbound logging truck driven by Kenneth Wester of Youngsville, causing the truck to swerve into the left lane and collide with an 18-wheeler driven by Rufus Hall of Chester, Va. The collision pushed Hall's truck into the concrete barrier in the median.

Hall was trapped in the cab of his truck for approximately 30 minutes. The accident also caused between 150 and 200 gallons of diesel fuel to spill on the highway.

The driver of the Honda got out of her car to check the barrels and then drove away, according to witnesses. The driver appeared to be an older female. The Honda sustained damage to its right front area.

Anyone with information on the driver of the Honda is asked to call Durham Police Substation 3 at

560-4583

or the Durham Police Department's front desk at

560-4427.

Authorities worked to clean up the spill. Authorities have since re-opened both eastbound lanes and traffic is moving in the area.