After 3 killed on I-40, some are raising concerns over safety

Three people were killed in a fiery wrong way crash on I-40 Wednesday. The crash happened near exit 315 in Benson near Highway 42.

Several people have reached out to WRAL News about the safety of that area, especially with all the construction

Many people said lighting is a big issue while driving on I-40. In fact, several people told WRAL News they take the back roads to avoid the interstate.

"It's pretty dark, last week I drove through at night," said Melanie Whitley. "It was hard to see."

The dark stretch was the scene Wednesday night of a triple fatal wrong-way crash.

A Toyota Tundra driven by 24 year-old Nicholas McGee was driving eastbound in the westbound lanes when he hit another vehicle. 2 passengers were inside that car- including a pregnant woman.

The 911 calls describe the confusion and wreckage immediately after:

Caller: We just left highway 40, 42 and exit 312….is it, is it blowing up? Is the truck blowing up?
911 operator: Okay keep everybody a safe distance.
Caller: it’s 2 vehicles…oh my God!
Caller (1:30) That truck is on fire…oh my God…it is on fire oh my God…

The North Carolina Department of Transportation says I-40 is only lit around work zones during construction, and more light is not something they plan on adding.

"We're not lighting everything, just the interchanges themselves," said Kevin Lacy, state traffic engineer.

NCDOT said it's not so much that constructions sites are more dangerous. They do, however, require more attention from drivers.

Whitley said she would rather avoid the interstate all together.

"I don't feel comfortable driving through there, the traffic is so bad and it gets congested and not being able to see too," said Whitley.

Alcohol is suspected to be involved in Wednesday's crash.

In 2019 a stretch of I-40 in this same area was the scene of a 30-car pileup.