Semi-rollover after hitting two highway patrol cars, closing I-77 for several hours | Local News
Staff reports
Authorities said a tractor-trailer suspected of being involved in multiple hit-and-run crashes beginning in Gaston County struck two North Carolina Highway Patrol cars in Iredell County and then swerved. reversed, closing the northbound lanes of Interstate 77 for several hours Saturday night.
Master Trooper Jeffrey Swagger, in a press release, said that around 8:10 p.m. Mecklenburg County troopers attempted to stop the tractor-trailer. He failed to stop, resulting in a chase that continued north on I-77 into Iredell County.
At around 8:30 p.m., troopers were stopped along I-77 north near the 39-mile marker in an attempt to deploy a tire deflation device and safely end the pursuit, Swagger said. The truck struck the device and then made a sharp turn, hitting two patrol vehicles that were parked on the shoulder with emergency lights activated, Swagger said.
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The semi-trailer truck overturned, blocking both northbound lanes.
The soldiers were outside and away from their vehicles and none were injured.
The driver, Monte Keith Gore, 63, of Bainbridge, Pa., was injured and transported by Iredell EMS to Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist in Winston-Salem. He was charged with impaired driving, speeding to evade arrest, felony assault with a deadly weapon, disobeying a light and siren, reckless driving, misdemeanor flight, possession of a controlled substance and damage to state property.
The freeway was cleared and reopened to traffic after 1 a.m. Sunday.
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