A two-vehicle crash temporarily closed the westbound lanes of Highway 211 in Pinehurst on Wednesday. First responders were dispatched to the collision around 1:30 p.m. The incident caused heavy traffic delays on Highway 211 between Juniper Lake Road and Abington Drive.
Investigators with N.C. State Highway Patrol told Sandhills Sentinel the female driver of a Toyota Camry made a legal U-turn into the westbound lanes.
After traveling approximately 400 yards from the U-turn in the right-hand lane, a female driver of an Infiniti QX60 rear-ended the Camry. The impact caused the Infiniti to go off the road and flip three times, according to a witness. The Camry stopped facing the opposite direction in the left lane.
Both drivers were injured in the crash. The driver of the Infiniti, who officials say was not wearing a seat belt, was taken to UNC Hospital in Chapel Hill by Air Care. The driver of the Camry was transported to FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital by ambulance. Both are believed to have non-life-threatening injuries.
All lanes of Highway 211 were reopened approximately 30 minutes after the crash.
Authorities said the driver of the Infiniti was cited for failure to reduce speed and failure to wear a seat belt.
Pinehurst Fire Department, Moore County EMS, and the North Carolina State Highway Patrol responded to the scene.
~Article and photo by Sandhills Sentinel Reporter Patrick Priest.
