UPDATE (1 p.m.): 8 injured in 5-car crash on U.S. 74

Published: Wednesday, May 22, 2013 at 10:43 AM.

Three people were ejected from vehicles and eight people were injured in a five-car crash on U.S. 74 this morning, according to police.

The crash tied up traffic in the eastbound and westbound lanes on the highway at N.C. 161 in the Kings Mountain area.

Several people have been transported from the scene.

"Everybody was alert and concious when they left the scene," said Melvin Proctor, chief of Kings Mountain Police Department, which investigated the crash. "I asked if anybody had a life-threatening injury, and what I was told was no. One had some facial injuries and a shoulder injury. That appeared to be the worst."

The crashes started when an SUV with an apparent deflated tire started to roll, Proctor said.

"There were wrecks on the other side of the highway because of people watching," he said.

At 10:30 a.m., trucks were on scene to remove vehicles from the roadway and median.

Three people were ejected from vehicles and eight people were injured in a five-car crash on U.S. 74 this morning, according to police.

The crash tied up traffic in the eastbound and westbound lanes on the highway at N.C. 161 in the Kings Mountain area.

Several people have been transported from the scene.

"Everybody was alert and concious when they left the scene," said Melvin Proctor, chief of Kings Mountain Police Department, which investigated the crash. "I asked if anybody had a life-threatening injury, and what I was told was no. One had some facial injuries and a shoulder injury. That appeared to be the worst."

The crashes started when an SUV with an apparent deflated tire started to roll, Proctor said.

"There were wrecks on the other side of the highway because of people watching," he said.

At 10:30 a.m., trucks were on scene to remove vehicles from the roadway and median.