Clayton, N.C. — Clayton police said an 80-year-old woman is dead after a traffic accident involving a car and a tractor-trailer Thursday evening.

The accident happened on westbound U.S. Highway 70 Business at Medical Park Drive.

Police said Julia Chernik Bilenky of Clayton was driving the car. She was taken to Wake Medical Center, but died as a result of the accident. Bilenky was alone in the car. The driver of the truck, William Keith Green, 36, of Apex, was not injured.

A preliminary investigation showed Bilenky's car pulled into the path of the westbound truck, which hit the driver’s side of the car.

Westbound U.S. Highway 70 Business was closed for about an hour, and onlooker delays jammed eastbound lanes. Detoured traffic created severe congestion on Shotwell Road, Old Garner Road and Guy Road in Wake County. Several minor accidents were also reported during this time.

The accident is still under investigation.