Burlington resident dead after fatal 53 vehicle collision, adds to snow-related wrecks

Approximately 50 vehicles were reported piled up at this interstate split due to weather conditions, leaving one person dead and multiple others with non-life threatening injuries

Photo by Scott Rodgerson/Unsplash.

Blankets of snow have piled up across Alamance County, flown in by a winter storm on Wednesday. This weather has caused a string of vehicle collisions near the I-40 and I-85 split, a little over 25 miles from Elon’s campus. Approximately 50 vehicles were reported piled up at this interstate split, leaving one person dead and multiple others with non-life threatening injuries on Feb. 19. 

CBS 17 reported that 78-year-old Jerolyn Day Wilson of Burlington died as a result of this crash. North Carolina State Highway Patrol said the deadly crash was caused by a tractor-trailer colliding with another vehicle from behind. A 44-year-old driver from Spartanburg, South Carolina, has been charged with misdemeanor death by motor vehicle and exceeding a safe speed for conditions. 

On Wednesday night, NCSHP announced that 53 cars were involved in the accident, causing traffic to slow on I-40 and I-85, backing traffic onto I-40. Twelve collisions happened behind the fatal crash that left Wilson dead. 

Town of Elon Police Chief Kelly Blackwelder told Elon News Network that as the weather is clearing up, the police department will work as normal and that the town of Elon Police Department has made sure roads are safe for travel.

“Elon works with our public works department, to ensure that we've treated side roads that may have had icy spots,” Blackwelder said. “But today, with the sun out, it's business as usual. We haven't done anything special or different than we would normally do without inclement weather.”