By Nathan Hardin
nhardin@salisburypost.com
KANNAPOLIS — Three people were taken to the hospital Tuesday morning after a Toyota pickup rolled four times on northbound Interstate 85.
Fire officials said the injuries didn’t appear life threatening. But all lanes were closed for about two hours.
Emergency crews responded to the crash about 10:30 a.m. in response to reports of an entrapment.
Mt. Mitchell Fire Chief Robert Earnhardt said three passengers were taken to the hospital.
Earnhardt said two Mecklenburg County paramedics were behind the white Toyota Tundra when it crashed.
Just north of exit 63 on northbound I-85, the truck overcorrected and rolled about four times, Earnhardt said.
There were two passengers in the front seats and one in the back seat.
The two paramedics called 911 and attended to the crash victims until crews arrived.
“They really did a great job until we got here,” Earnhardt said.
Pieces of the Toyota were scattered across about 50 yards of the two-lane roadway.
Crews worked to clean up piles of metal pipe, stacks of wood and several bags of concrete that covered the interstate.
Many who were stuck in traffic got out and stood talking amongst their vehicles.
North Carolina State Highway Patrol Trooper C.T. Rogers said the three passengers were taken to Carolinas Medical Center-NorthEast.
All three were from Charlotte. Their names weren’t available Tuesday afternoon.
Rogers said the truck lost control and clipped a tractor trailer before barrel rolling down the interstate.
The driver was only going about 55 mph, Rogers said, and the trooper didn’t expect charges to be filed.
Contact reporter Nathan?Hardin at 704-797-4246.