CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Drivers are urged to avoid a major intersection in the Steele Creek area of southwest Charlotte after a crash involving a tractor-trailer has downed power lines across the road.
The crash happened just before 4:30 a.m. at the intersection of Steele Creek Road and Westinghouse Boulevard. Police said the tractor-trailer hit low-hanging lines and brought down several power poles.
We first alerted WSOCTV news app users with a notification just before 5 a.m. Tuesday to avoid the mess before stepping out the door.
Download the WSOCTV news app for your smartphone and get updates on this story and other breaking news as they come in.
The crash was so violent that the trailer was broken in two, and the pole ended up beneath the big rig.
Traffic was being diverted south onto Steele Creek Road and repairs were expected to last several hours.
Police said that after hitting the power lines, the driver of the tractor-trailer got out of his cab and was hit by another vehicle passing by. He was taken to the hospital with a broken leg but will survive, officers said.
Channel 9 saw another vehicle at the scene, a minivan, with a broken windshield.
It's not clear if that was the vehicle that struck the driver and police have not said what the trailer was hauling.
The intersection will be closed for an undetermined amount of time as crews repair the lines and remove the tractor-trailer.
Because of power outages in the area, officers were directing traffic at multiple intersections, including Interstate 484 at Arrowood Road and Brown Grier Road at Steele Creek Road.
Check back with wsoctv.com for updates on this story.
Read more top trending stories on wsoctv.com:
- Cherryville man accused of recording girls on his yacht in Myrtle Beach
- Tractor-trailer breaks in half after smashing into power pole in Steele Creek
- CMPD officer injured when driver speeds off with him inside SUV
- WATCH: Keith Monday's Tuesday forecast outlook
- Suspects in custody following police chase, crash in Kannapolis