Charlotte, NC : One person killed in a tractor-trailer crash on Interstate 85 in north Charlotte on Wednesday, April 6, 2016

At least one person was killed in a tractor-trailer crash that shut down Interstate 85 in north Charlotte for hours Wednesday, according to sources. Firefighters freed two people trapped because of the wreck.

The tractor-trailer was carrying cotton when it crashed and caught fire around 4:30 a.m. on I-85 at the Highway 29/49 split, near Sugar Creek Road. Firefighters closed the bridge from N Tryon Street to I-85 southbound after concerns of possible damage to the overpass.

One lane on I-85 near Exit 43 reopened around 7:30 a.m. The other lanes opened several hours later.

Charlotte Fire Captain Jackie Gilmore said the crash was the "worst I've seen in a while."

It took 23 firefighters around 32 minutes to free the two people trapped. Medic took them to Carolinas Medical Center in critical condition. Sources told WBTV that one of those injured died at the hospital.

"Slow downs are expected throughout the day as clean-up of the cotton could take some time. Lanes could open earlier depending on clean-up efforts," the NCDOT says.

Highway Patrol is investigating the crash. Charlotte-Mecklenburg police blocked traffic onto I-85 northbound at Interstate 77.

Interstate 77 to Interstate 485 and N Tryon Street northbound to University City Boulevard were used as alternate routes.

Source :
Sources: One killed in I-85 tractor-trailer crash