Several highways back open in NC foothills after multi-car crashes, black ice

WATAUGA COUNTY, N.C. — Just getting to the mountains was challenging Monday morning because Highways 321, 421 and 16 were all closed due to black ice.

The problems began around sunrise after several hours of freezing rain.

The crashes in north Caldwell County included one where a pickup truck plunged down a hillside. While responding to that wreck, one of the first responder’s vehicles was hit when another car slid off the road.

Fortunately, he was not in the vehicle.

Near the Wilkes and Watauga County line, Channel 9′s Dave Faherty spotted several wrecks Monday morning because of the icy conditions, including one where a driver struck some lines for a power pole. Firefighters said there were nearly two dozen wrecks along that stretch of road.

James Mullin said his vehicle was covered in ice. He said he pulled over because he was concerned he would crash on the black ice.

“You’re on it before you know it. There was another lady driving with us and I told her to drive real slow because you’re done before you even know it,” Mullins said.

In Caldwell County, schools were originally delayed three hours but then officials decided the roads were too dangerous and cancelled school instead.

By midday, most locations were above freezing temperatures and the major roads had reopened.

Black ice to blame for more than 20-car crash on Watauga County highway

Black ice is to blame for a crash involving more than 20 cars on a Watauga County highway Monday, firefighters told Channel 9.

According to the Deep Gap Fire Department, Highway 421 south was closed in Watauga County at about 7:45 a.m. Monday after a crash involving more than 20 cars.

“They were all sorts of ways across the road. In to the ditch. On the side of the road. We had one car that was flipped over because it hit the ditch and rolled over,” James Dunn with Deep Gap Fire said.

The fire department said in an 8:30 a.m. update that Old Highway 421, near the Blue Ridge Parkway, was also closed from Brown’s Chapel Road to Parkcrest Drive.

Crews diverted traffic to Highway 221 while they cleared the area.

In another update immediately afterward, the Deep Gap Fire Department said those weren’t the only crashes they were working Monday morning.

“We currently have units working a 21 car accident at 421 & Stony Fork, a 50 car accident on 421 near the sandpiles in Wilkes County, a vehicle accident on Old 421 near the Livestock Market and lastly, 421 near Laurel Springs Church,” firefighters said in a Facebook comment. “We urge everyone to stay off the roads until DOT can get the roads cleared!”

The accident on Highway 421 at Stoney Fork Road was just one crash involving 22 cars, firefighters said. Everyone hurt was expected to recover. Firefighters also said a power line was down in the road because of the crash.

Firefighters told Channel 9 all the accidents were caused by icy roads on the highway.

Deep Gap Fire Department posted an update to their Facebook page just after 10 a.m. Monday saying Highway 421 had reopened.

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