Fallen Tree Strikes Three Cars on I-40 in Cary, No Serious Injuries

A large tree toppled by strong wind and rain crashed across eastbound Interstate 40 just before the Harrison Avenue exit at mile marker 286 in Cary on March 12, striking at least three cars and sending NCDOT crews to the scene. No serious injuries were reported.

The fallen tree blocked eastbound lanes at one of Cary's busiest highway corridors, forcing the North Carolina Department of Transportation to respond alongside at least one other state agency whose full name was not confirmed. The collision involved at least three vehicles that struck the tree where it lay across the roadway, though the precise number of cars affected and the extent of vehicle damage were not immediately available.

The incident was part of a broader storm assault on Wake County that day. WRAL meteorologist Aimee Wilmoth reported that a line of gusty winds moved into the area around 11 a.m., with radar detecting gusts of 40 to 50 mph. Those winds, while falling short of the 58 mph threshold required to trigger a severe thunderstorm warning, proved more than sufficient to bring down trees across Cary and Raleigh. The hardest-hit neighborhoods included Cobblestone Court in Raleigh, Hidden Oaks Drive in Cary, and Buffalo Road in Raleigh, with a separate downed tree also reported on Laughridge Road in Cary.

The damage extended well beyond Wake County's borders. In Johnston County, trees fell across nearly half a mile of I-40 East, creating major traffic backups and road closures. Interstate 40 East was also closed Friday night near North Carolina Highway 96 just east of Benson due to additional downed trees. In north Raleigh, a tree crushed a parked car on Fiesta Way, though no injuries were reported there either. A tree was also cleared from Crabtree Boulevard in Raleigh. In Harnett County, a separate storm dropped a tree onto a home's roof, causing structural damage but no injuries.

The Cary stretch of I-40 near Harrison Avenue is a high-traffic commuter and freight corridor, making a mid-lane tree strike particularly hazardous even at wind speeds that do not officially qualify as severe. The fact that three cars collided with the tree before responders could close the affected lanes underscores how quickly conditions deteriorated. NCDOT has not yet provided a timeline for how long the lanes remained blocked or when the tree was fully cleared.