A three-vehicle crash shut down a busy stretch of Highway 15-501 late Saturday morning, sending five people to the hospital—one of them by helicopter.
The crash occurred around 11:00 a.m. between Priest Hill Road and the intersection with N.C. Highway 24-27, involving a Chevrolet Camaro RS, a Lexus ES 300, and a U-Haul box truck.
Troopers said the U-Haul and Lexus were both traveling east on 15-501 when the westbound Camaro crossed the center line. The Camaro first sideswiped the U-Haul before colliding head-on with the Lexus.
The driver and passenger of the U-Haul, the driver of the Lexus, and the driver of the Camaro were all transported to Moore Regional Hospital by ambulance. A passenger in the Camaro was airlifted to UNC Hospitals in Chapel Hill by UNC Carolina Air Care.
The highway was shut down for more than two hours while first responders worked the scene and troopers conducted their investigation. All lanes have since reopened.
The crash remains under investigation.
