Crash at Aberdeen Starbucks stops traffic

A collision at a busy Aberdeen intersection stopped traffic on U.S. 15-501 for nearly an hour on Tuesday. The wreck occurred just after 3 p.m. and resulted in two lanes of traffic being shut down.

The crash occurred when a Jeep Wrangler and a Dodge Charger collided at the intersection of U.S. 15-501 and Columbus Drive in front of the Aberdeen Starbucks.

The force of the impact knocked several pieces off the Charger, with the ensuing wreckage blocking both southbound lanes and the turning lane. The official cause of the wreck is still under investigation at this time.

According to authorities on scene, Moore County EMS transported at least one person to FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital.

The Jeep sustained damage to the front end, with deployed air bags and fluid leaking from the vehicle. The Charger suffered heavy front end damage, and parts of the vehicle littered the highway along the site of the crash.

Southbound commuters circumvented the wreck as they were rerouted through a series of side roads and parking lots. First responders worked as quickly and efficiently as possible to clear the scene.

Though both southbound lanes of U.S. 15-501 were initially closed, it was eventually opened to one lane when the vehicles were safely removed from the roadway.

Responding to the scene were the Aberdeen Police Department, Aberdeen Fire Department, and Moore County EMS. Rockwell Towing arrived on the scene to remove both of the vehicles.

~Article and photo by Sandhills Sentinel Reporter Abegail Murphy.