Officials stress safety after IMAP truck struck during interstate incident

CHARLOTTE — A man was injured Tuesday on I-85 near W.T. Harris Boulevard after a trailer detached from a vehicle and struck the worker’s truck.

The incident occurred when a car hit debris on the interstate, causing its trailer to disconnect and crash into the vehicle the contractor was working on.

The worker, who is part of the North Carolina Department of Transportation’s roadside assistance program, is expected to recover despite initial reports of life-threatening injuries.

Crash on I-85 near WT Harris Boulevard on Oct. 14, 2025

IMAP, or Incident Management Assistance Patrol, trucks are a crucial part of roadside assistance, helping drivers with flat tires, running out of gas, or minor mechanical issues, all free of charge.

“He’s our co-worker, he’s part of our family here, and we want to try to look out for our family,” said Patrick Kimbrell, an IMAP supervisor.

Kimbrell emphasized the daily risks faced by IMAP responders, noting the dangers posed by passing vehicles.

“Tractor-trailers going by you at 70 miles an hour, they’re like missiles flying down the road,” Kimbrell said.

Kimbrell also stressed the importance of the Move Over Law, which requires drivers to change lanes to give space to emergency and assistance vehicles.

“We would highly appreciate being able to go home at the end of the day to our wives, and or husbands, so please move over,” Kimbrell urged.

Jeff D’Arruda, an IT engineer, highlighted the role of traffic cameras in dispatching IMAP responders quickly to disabled motorists.

“These are very unsafe every day. It’s just anything could happen at any time,” D’Arruda explained. “We have four operators that oversee the cameras around the Charlotte Mecklenburg area; we have 165 cameras.”

The incident underscores the hazards faced by roadside assistance workers and highlights the importance of driver awareness and adherence to safety laws to protect those who work to keep roads safe.

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