Durham Crash Injures 6

A three-vehicle accident on I-40 Saturday afternoon injured six people and tied up traffic in both directions for more than three hours.

The collision occurred near the Fayetteville Road exit at 3:30 p.m.

Identities of the victims have not been released.

Investigating officers said a van heading east on I-40 blew a tire, and crossed the median. The van hit a green Honda Accord and a maroon Ford Explorer, both of which had been heading westbound.

The Accord landed on its roof. Two women, one in the first van and the other in the Accord, were airlifted to medical treatment. Four other victims were transported by ambulances. The van driver sustained head injuries.

For several years, stretches of heavily traveled I-40 have had cable guardrails in the median, aimed at preventing such cross-over accidents. This particular stretch of roadway does not have those cables.

Two adults and two children had been riding in the Explorer, which had Virginia plates.