A trip along eastbound I-540 in Wake County turned deadly when a pickup truck went off the highway near the Neuse River Bridge, killing a 13-year-old front-seat passenger and sending the driver to the hospital, according to troopers. The 2008 Ford F‑350 left the road, overturned down a steep embankment and came to rest on its roof. The driver, identified by the State Highway Patrol as 36-year-old Joshua Phillip Lewis, was taken to WakeMed and is now facing misdemeanor death-by-vehicle and unsafe-tire charges.
Investigators say the wreck unfolded on June 20 after the truck suffered a blown tire while traveling eastbound toward the Neuse River Bridge. According to CBS17, the F‑350 overcorrected, drifted into the left lane and sideswiped a 2017 Dodge Charger before slamming into the median guardrail and tumbling down the embankment.
The driver of the Charger was not hurt, but the crash shut down eastbound lanes near the Neuse River Bridge for hours while troopers and emergency crews worked the scene. Crews remained on-site clearing debris and stabilizing the area, and traffic backups lingered well into the day, according to ABC11.
Charges and investigation
Wake County authorities obtained warrants charging Joshua Phillip Lewis with misdemeanor death by vehicle and an allegation involving unsafe tires, according to CBS17. Court records did not show as of Monday whether Lewis had been served with the warrants or taken into custody. Troopers said Lewis received treatment at WakeMed after the crash and that their investigation remains active.
Scene and next steps
The State Highway Patrol has not released further information about the teen who was killed or any additional findings from the crash reconstruction. Troopers said the investigation is ongoing and did not provide a timetable for when it might wrap up, while crews continued to clear the area and process evidence, according to ABC11.
