1 person killed as storms roll through Triangle, leaving fallen trees, power outages
One woman was killed and thousands were left without power after severe storms descended on the Triangle.
On a record-high hot day, with temperatures nearing 100 degrees, the storm left downed trees and a major accident on Interstate 40 involving 32 vehicles.
Westbound lanes on I-40 were closed for hours in Durham near mile 274 due to the 32-vehicle crash during rush hour.
Two separate collisions just before 5 p.m. near Streets at Southpoint Mall closed parts of the interstate until after 8 p.m., according to the Department of Transportation.
Durham police did not provide details on the cause or any injuries. The News & Observer has requested more information on the crashes from the State Highway Patrol.
The National Weather Service previously issued a severe thunderstorm warning for parts of the Triangle to last until 5 p.m. They warned of wind speeds of up to 80 miles per hour and possible quarter-sized hail.
In Durham, numerous trees blocked roads, and the police department issued a frequently updated list of road closures.
A 78-year-old woman was killed after a large tree fell on her car while she was driving in the storm, Durham Police said. Police said Donna Warsaw of Hillsborough was driving north on Anderson Street around 4:20 p.m., not far from the Lakewood neighborhood. As she crossed the intersection with Morehead Avenue, a tree fell on her car. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
Tuesday night, Durham Public Schools said school would be closed for students on Wednesday with a two-hour delay for staff at year-round and specialty high schools and central services offices.
The air was humid and thick with the scent of pine as first responders, city crews, workers from the power company, and tow trucks spread throughout the city.
“It’s been craziness. It’s just been trees down everywhere, said a man named Thomas who spent the afternoon pulling branches off the streets with his black Dodge pickup. He declined to share his last name when he stopped for a cigarette break on West Club Boulevard.
He said he was slowly making his way home off Hillsborough Road from Glennstone Road, clearing trees along the way.
“Just being a Good Samaritan and trying to get home at the same time,” he said.
Photos: Fallen trees, power outages left in wake of Triangle storms
Orange Rural Fire Department in Hillsborough reported wires tangled with trees and shut down traffic near UNC Hospitals Hillsborough Campus and Waterstone Drive about 5:30 p.m.
“We are responding to multiple reports of trees down in the southern portion of the fire district,” the fire department reported.
Orange County officials caution drivers to avoid Old N.C. 86 near Waterstone Drive. Authrities are working to clear the roads.
Power outages reported
The following power outages are reported at 10 p.m., according to a Duke Energy outage map.
Durham County: 66,447
Orange County: 8,504
Wake County: 3,498
Johnston County: 1,929
If you live in the Duke Energy coverage area, you can call Duke Energy Progressive to report an outage here: (800) 769-3766 (800-POWERON), or (800) 419-6356. You can also text the word OUT to 57801.
In Wake County, customers can call the Wake Electric Membership Corporation at: 919-863-6499.
An outage map updated in real-time from electric cooperatives in North Carolina can be accessed at this link.
Durham road closings
The following roads in Durham have closed due to downed trees and fallen power lines, according to the Durham Police Department:
▪ Anderson Street and Cranford Road
▪ Norwood Avenue and Myers Street
▪ Hope Valley Road and West Cornwallis Road
▪ Hope Valley Road and University Drive
▪ North Driver Street and Liberty Street
▪ 1100 block of North Miami Boulevard
▪ N. Roxboro/Chateau Rd.
▪ 800 block W. Club Blvd.
▪ 1500 Cole Mill Road
▪ West Corporation Street and Rigsbee Avenue
▪ Indian Trail and Hillandale Road
▪ Anderson Street and Duke University Road
▪ Hillandale Road at Hillsborough Road
▪ 400 block of Old Oxford Road
▪ 500 block of Hardee Street
▪ 100 block of Lamond Avenue
Tammy Grubb, Mary Helen Moore, Luke DeCock and Drew Jackson contributed to this story.
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