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Troopers investigate crash that shut down I-40 East in Johnston County

Troopers with the North Carolina State Highway Patrol were investigating a two-vehicle crash that shut down eastbound lanes of Interstate 40 Tuesday morning.

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Two-vehicle crash shuts down I-40 East
JOHNSTON COUNTY, N.C. — Troopers with the North Carolina State Highway Patrol were investigating a two-vehicle crash that shut down eastbound lanes of Interstate 40 Tuesday morning.

The crash happened at about 7 a.m. near exit 334 in Johnston County. According to investigators, the driver of a flatbed truck was parked on the right shoulder when he attempted to merge onto I-40 east. As the driver, identified as Larry Eugene Kelly, of Durham, pulled into the far right lane, a small box truck hit the flatbed truck from behind.

The crash resulted in the driver and a passenger of the box truck being pinned inside the vehicle, troopers said. Jason Smithey, of McLeansville, and a passenger of the box truck were taken to WakeMed with serious injuries.

Traffic was being detoured off of I-40 following the crash.

Authorities said charges are pending.

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