OCRACOKE, N.C. — Parts of North Carolina Highway 12 on Ocracoke Island will reopen Wednesday afternoon, a day after closing due to ocean overwash.
The road closure stretched between the Ocracoke Island Ferry Terminal and the pony pens, according to the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT).
On Wednesday, officials announced NC 12 on Ocracoke would reopen at 2 p.m. Ferry service between Hatteras and Ocracoke will also resume with a 2 p.m. departure from Hatteras.
A day earlier, Hyde County officials confirmed a car crash occurred around the time of high tide on Ocracoke Island on NC 12. A public information officer for the county confirmed one fatality associated with the accident but added it's still under investigation whether the fatality was a result of the crash, or the crash was the result of the fatality.
Flooding on the soundside also affected Hatteras Island and Pea Island temporarily on Tuesday, with drivers turning around just beyond the Pea Island Visitor Center to avoid high-standing water.
NCDOT officials were urging people on the Outer Banks to drive with extreme caution if they go out.
“Roads are flooded down by Hatteras, probably eight inches deep for 5-6 miles," resident John Koehl said.
“We have a regular car and we needed a 4x4 to get through the water, so we weren’t able to go further. We didn’t want to get stuck," Stephanie Caloir said, who was visiting the OBX for the first time.
The flooding came as an area of low-pressure tracked through the region, bringing heavy winds and wind gusts on Tuesday.
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