Highway Patrol: Impaired driver takes troopers on chase, hits car head on in 4-vehicle crash in Durham

A suspect is in custody Thursday night after leading police on a high-speed chase down NC Highway 98 in Durham during rush hour, causing chaos during the busy evening commute.

The suspected drunk driver crashed into multiple vehicles near Interstate 885 in Durham after a chase with state troopers. The incident caused authorities to close the major highway in both directions for nearly two hours.

Victor Soto Fernandez- works at a business right off NC-98. He saw a car flying through traffic and a state trooper in close pursuit.

"He took the first red light and tried to head left towards Raleigh. When he took the left, the other cars were already coming this way," Fernandez said. "He hit one of them and then he hit the other two cars that were there."

As crews worked to clean up the scene, traffic was at a standstill. Soto Fernandez says people were unable to access his place of work.

"The entrance was blocked," Fernandez said.

Working nearby, Fernandez has seen his fair share of accidents.

"When 5 o'clock hits, people come out of work, and it gets hectic here," Fernandez said.

The highway has since reopened.

The North Carolina State Highway Patrol (NCSHP) is investigating the crash, which involved four vehicles.

An NCSHP representative said the suspect vehicle drove in the wrong direction and crashed head-on into another vehicle.

Sky 5 flew over the scene. There were injuries, although they were not considered life-threatening.