Durham Collision Between SUV And Tractor-Trailer Seriously Injures One

Police say that a collision involving a tractor-trailer and a sport utility vehicle early on the morning of May 14 resulted in one person suffering serious personal injuries and traffic on eastbound Interstate 40 in Durham being held up for more than two hours.

According to Durham police, the two-vehicle crash took place shortly before 6 a.m. on eastbound I-40 near Mile Marker 276.

Durham police spokeswoman Kammie Michael said that a GMC Jimmy driven by 51-year-old Durham resident Norman Burwick was merging onto I-40 East from Fayetteville Road when he collided with an eastbound tractor-trailer driven by 62-year-old Stanley resident Stephen Wiley. The tractor-trailer was traveling in the far right lane at the time of impact. Michael said the impact caused Burwick to lose control of his SUV, which overturned multiple times, traveled down an embankment, and came to rest beside N.C. 54. Michael said that Burwick became entrapped and had to be extracted by firefighters.

Police say Burwick received transport to Duke University Hospital in serious condition. Wiley was not injured.

Michael said the accident remains under investigation.