An Emporia woman was cited following a chain-reaction crash this morning on Interstate 95 in Northampton County, according to the state Highway Patrol.
Trooper W.C. Wheeler said he charged Heather Veliky, 22, with failure to reduce speed and reckless driving.
The crash occurred when traffic was at a standstill in the southbound lane at the 176 mile marker in the Garysburg area.
Wheeler said Veliky said she had the cruise control set on 75 but didn’t realize traffic had stopped. She struck the rear of one vehicle and that vehicle hit another in front of it.
Veliky’s vehicle caromed into a tractor-trailer.
Gaston Fire & Rescue reported in a statement it was dispatched at 10:45 this morning for a multiple-vehicle crash with entrapment.
Three passenger vehicles and one tractor-trailer were involved, closing both southbound lanes.
Veliky was trapped in the vehicle and firefighters removed both passenger doors with the Jaws of Life and removed the passenger side B post.
Vidant Eastcare landed on the scene and transported the patient to Greenville.
Two additional patients were transported to Halifax Regional Medical Center by Northampton County EMS. All patients were listed in stable condition.
Wheeler said the injuries were not considered life-threatening.
Fire crews remained on scene for slightly more than an hour and the highway remained closed during that time.
Gaston and Garysburg police, the Northampton County Sheriff’s Office and North Carolina DOT assisted.