Double fatal crash closes I-40W near Clayton

A double fatal crash involving multiple vehicles closed Interstate 40 West between mile markers 311 and 312 near Clayton, just west of N.C. Highway 42, Thursday night.

Posted 3:24 a.m. Nov 18, 2011 — Updated 10:18 a.m. Nov 18, 2011

CLAYTON, N.C. — A double fatal crash involving multiple vehicles closed Interstate 40 West between mile markers 311 and 312 near Clayton, just west of N.C. Highway 42, Thursday night.

The names of those who died have not been released. The crash happened around 10 p.m. after a Mitsubishi, carrying three people, including a baby, crossed the median from the eastbound to the westbound lanes and hit a BMW SUV and a Lexus, according to troopers.

The driver and front-seat passenger in the Mitsubishi died. Emergency responders found the baby crying and took the child to a nearby hospital. The baby's name and condition were not released.

The drivers of the BMW and Lexus were also taken to the hospital. Their names and conditions are unknown.

Troopers closed all lanes of I-40 for about five hours Thursday night, reopening the highway to traffic in both directions around 3:30 a.m.

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