A somber event took place in Watauga County yesterday evening, resulting in the death of a man after a collision with a pickup truck. The incident occurred around 6:15 p.m. along Highway 321 near Frank Hodges Drive. According to a report by WBTV, the man was identified as 39-year-old Tyler McClure Vance, who tragically died at the scene.
The North Carolina State Highway Patrol stated that Vance was wearing dark clothing, in an area that lacked proper lighting at the time of the accident. The truck involved was a 1999 Ford Ranger, heading west on Highway 321. The driver of the Ranger was not injured in the collision, and investigators have indicated that neither speed nor impairment were contributing factors to the tragic event. As of now, no charges are expected to be filed in connection with the incident, as reported by QC News.
Detailed further by WSOC-TV, the weather at the time of the collision included rainfall, which may have impacted visibility on the roadway. The driver of the pickup, identified as 23-year-old Kyle Reese Taylor, escaped the incident unscathed. Subsequent to the collision, authorities closed the roadway for several hours as part of the on-scene investigation.
Despite the loss of life, with the current evidence at hand, the Highway Patrol reiterates that no charges will be pursued against the driver, according to the initial investigation.
