Friday's wreck occurred on the causeway over Lake Norman north of Exit 30. (David Boraks/DavidsonNews.net)

Updated 9:24 p.m.
A 16-year-old boy was taken to a Charlotte hospital with non-life-threatening injuries Friday night after a four-vehicle accident at rush hour on I-77 southbound near Exit 30. The accident happened around 5:30 p.m. on the causeway across Lake Norman north of Davidson Exit 30.

Davidson and Iredell fire units and Medic responded to the crash which involved a rental truck and three cars, state police said Friday night. Traffic was closed in both directions for about a half hour. The northbound lanes reopened just before 6 p.m.,  and southbound traffic was flowing again by 7 p.m. But traffic remained backed up for miles in both directions. Side roads, including N.C. 115 northbound, also were jammed.

A state highway patrol sergeant in Statesville said the a Budget rental truck was headed south across the causeway when traffic came to a near standstill for an unknown reason. The truck struck the car in front of it, and caused a chain collision with two other cars in front of them.

The collision crushed the rear end of one car, injuring the teen. The boy was taken to Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte with non-life-threatening injuries, the state trooper said.

(WCNC.com has a dramatic photo of the damaged car.) The Budget rental truck on the scene showed heavy damage on the front end.

The southbound lanes of I-77 (left) were closed after the wreck around 5:30. (David Boraks/DavidsonNews.net)

Lights shone on Lake Davidson as rescue workers responded to the accident on the causeway across Lake Norman (Jay Wilson/DavidsonNews.net)

EARLIER STORY

Updated 8:02 p.m.
A serious accident with injuries on I-77 southbound shut down traffic north of Exit 30 Friday around 5:30 p.m. Davidson and Iredell fire units and Medic were on the scene. The accident involved a rental truck and a passenger car and other vehicles.

Traffic was closed in both directions for a time. The northbound lanes reopened, but were moving slowly around 6:30 p.m. NCDOT said the accident involved injuries. At least one ambulance was seen leaving the scene around 5:45.

The DOT said the road could be closed until 7:15 p.m..

Update: As of 6:20pm, traffic is backed up for miles in both directions. Side roads, including N.C. 115 northbound, also were jammed.

NC DOT issued an alert its traveler information page:

All Southbound lanes of I-77 are closed near mile marker 31 due to a vehicle accident. Northbound lanes are heavily congested due to onlooker delays. All lanes are not expected to reopen until later in the evening of Friday, February 10th. Motorists are advised to expect delays in the area and to seek alternate routes.

At around 6:30, a wrecker pulled away a passenger car that was heavily damaged in the rear. (WCNC.com also has a dramatic photo of the damaged car.) A Budget rental truck on the scene showed heavy damage on the front end. Photos on WCNC.com showed that four vehicles were involved.

No further information was available.