Late Saturday night, a westbound Mercedes with a driver and four passengers, all active duty Army soldiers from Fort Liberty, North Carolina, attempted to exit westbound I-40 at McGee’s Crossroads, exit 319. The vehicle traveled across Highway 210 and down the on-ramp on the opposite side. The driver lost control midway down the ramp and collided with a guardrail, seriously injuring at least one backseat passenger. Firefighters from 50-210 and Cleveland, along with Johnston County EMS, spent nearly an hour extricating a passenger pinned in the back seat beneath the twisted steel guardrail, which had penetrated the passenger compartment. Emergency workers cut the car’s door and roof and then the guardrail itself to free the trapped victim, who was then rushed to WakeMed. Few official details have been released, including the exact number of injuries and any potential charges. The North Carolina State Highway Patrol troopers are investigating the accident, which occurred at 10:40 p.m., with assistance from Johnston County Sheriff’s deputies.
