BENSON — It took a while for traffic to start moving along Interstate 40 in Johnston County Monday afternoon, after an accident involving three vehicles.

The highway patrol says an Isuzu Rodeo was heading down the ramp to I-40 from Highway 42. The Rodeo slid across the highway, struck another car and a tractor trailer.

Two people passing by jumped out and pulled the Rodeo driver out of her car. She is 32-year-old Lisa Nikaeen of Raleigh, and is in stable condition at Wake Medical Center.

A witness said the tractor trailer creased the guard rail and came to rest there. The rodeo slid on its top for approximately another 130 feet before it came to rest in the middle of the road.

The Rodeo's gas tank burst and the fuel ignited, burning that vehicle and the cab of the tractor-trailer.

A trooper cited Nikaeen for exceeding a safe speed.

The accident shut down the westbound lanes of I-40 for about two hours Traffic was detoured during that time.

Investigators say the other victims did not sustain life-threatening injuries.