7-mile stretch of NC 12 closed in Outer Banks after fatal crash

Hyde County deputies are investigating a fatal accident that happened late Tuesday morning on Ocracoke Island.

County leaders said the crash on N.C. Highway 12 killed a person, but had no other details.

The crash happened north of the overwash that shut down a 7-mile stretch of N.C. Highway 12 in the Outer Banks' Ocracoke Island. The highway is expected to remain closed until noon Wednesday due to sand and overwash, according to the state.

All lanes of N.C. 12 are closed on the north end of Ocracoke Island between the National Park Service Pony Pens and the Ocracoke Ferry Terminal, according to the state Department of Transportation.

"The low pressure system that brought us the rain is pulling away from us to the northeast," said WRAL meteorologist Aimee Wilmoth. "In the wake of the low, we have a strong northwesterly wind causing overwash along the Outer Banks."

The Outer Banks is under a flood advisory until 4 p.m. on Tuesday, when 2 to 3 feet of inundation is possible above ground level. Some roads and low lying areas will experience flooding.

According to Wilmoth, improving conditions are expected late this evening.

The NCDOT posted on X (formerly Twitter), saying N.C. 12 "will remain closed until conditions improve. Elsewhere, we are seeing soundside flooding in several locations on Hatteras and Pea Islands. Drive with EXTREME CAUTION if you must go out today."

Editor's note: This story has been updated to reflect a closure stretching to the Ocracoke ferry terminal, not the Hatteras ferry terminal as originally posted.

WITN contributed to this story.