The white S10 pickup that caused the accident was so badly damaged that rescue personnel had to use the Jaws of Life to extricate the driver. The driver was transported to UNC Lenoir for treatment. Photo by Catherine Hardee / Neuse News

A five-car accident near Skinner’s Bypass in Kinston caused traffic backups and diverted traffic on Highway 11 Friday afternoon.

According to Trooper Heath of the North Carolina State Highway Patrol, the elderly driver of a white Chevy S10 pickup was traveling northbound on Highway 11, just south of Highway 70, when he ran off the right side of the road. Heath said following that, the driver failed to reduce speed and struck a white Ford Fusion, setting off a chain reaction that ultimately involved three other vehicles that were waiting at the traffic light. 

Heath said that no decision on charges has yet been made, as troopers were waiting to learn what caused the driver to run off the road.

Chief Craig Jarman of Southwood Volunteer Fire and Rescue said he received the call about the accident at 5:32 p.m. Personnel from Southwood and Sandy Bottom Volunteer Fire and Rescue responded due to the report of at least one person trapped in their vehicle.

Jarman said responders used the Jaws of Life to extricate the driver from the S10 pickup, which took about fifteen minutes. Once he was out, the driver was transported to UNC Lenoir for treatment. The driver of one other vehicle involved was also transported to UNC Lenoir, and six others were checked by Lenoir County EMS personnel but refused transport. 

Traffic heading north on Highway 11 was diverted away from the scene of the accident for nearly an hour before the accident scene was cleared and traffic flow was restored. 

No information about the identity or condition of those transported to the hospital is available at this time.