Troopers say impaired driver slammed into fire engine on I-85 in Concord

CONCORD, N.C. — State troopers were investigating two separate crashes on Interstate 85 in Concord overnight, and one of them involved a fire truck.

Concord firefighters were called to a wreck on I-85 northbound, between Bruton Smith Boulevard and Poplar Tent Road, around 1 a.m.

IMAGES: Car slams into Concord fire engine on I-85

Troopers told Channel 9 that the crash involved two cars, and that one of the drivers was unresponsive before being taken to the hospital.

While emergency crews were still on the scene, about 45 minutes later, a BMW sideswiped a Concord fire engine that was blocking the three left lanes of the interstate, according to troopers.

Officials said no firefighters were in the truck at the time, and no firefighters were hurt.

The impact of the crash broke the front axle of the fire truck and pinned the driver of the BMW inside his car.

Emergency crews had to cut the roof off the car to get the driver free and he was rushed to Carolinas Medical Center Northeast, where he underwent emergency surgery, officials told Channel 9.

Troopers told Eyewitness News that the driver was impaired and will be charged with DWI as well as a violation of the Move Over law.

That person's name has not been released.

The interstate was closed for roughly two hours and the fire engine had to be towed away.

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