A wrong-way pickup truck turned a stretch of Interstate 587 near Wilson deadly on Monday evening, killing two people in a head-on crash and tangling traffic as troopers scrambled to the scene.
Authorities say the collision unfolded just before 7:15 p.m. at mile marker 31. Troopers from the North Carolina State Highway Patrol arrived to find two people dead at the scene. A third vehicle became involved when its driver swerved into the median to avoid the chaos, and everyone in that car was reported uninjured.
According to FOX8 WGHP, investigators say the pickup made a U-turn on the interstate, then started driving the wrong way before slamming into another vehicle head-on at the same mile marker. Troopers shut down the eastbound lanes while they worked the scene and later reopened the roadway once their on-scene investigation wrapped up.
How Troopers Say the Crash Unfolded
The early account from the North Carolina State Highway Patrol points to the pickup's abrupt U-turn as the moment things went sideways. From there, the truck traveled the wrong way on I-587 until the deadly impact at mile marker 31. One driver managed to steer into the median and avoid a direct hit, a move that likely kept the toll from climbing even higher, according to investigators.
Troopers are still sorting out whether impairment, distraction or some other form of driver error may have been involved. For more on the agency leading the investigation, see the North Carolina State Highway Patrol.
Why Wrong-Way Crashes Turn Deadly So Fast
Wrong-way wrecks on divided highways do not happen every day, but when they do, the results are often catastrophic. Head-on impacts at interstate speeds give drivers little chance to react, which is one reason these crashes account for a disproportionate share of serious injuries and deaths.
State records and a North Carolina Department of Transportation review of wrong-way incidents on freeways show the same troubling pattern and have helped spur efforts to improve warning signs and detection systems. For more detail, see the wrong-way crash analysis from NCDOT.
Investigation Continues and Drivers Urged to Call 911
Officials have not yet released the names of the two people killed, and the Highway Patrol says the investigation into Monday's crash is ongoing. Troopers are asking anyone who was in the area, especially drivers with dash-cam footage, to contact the State Highway Patrol with information that could help fill in the remaining gaps.
Authorities are also using the incident as a grim reminder of what to do if you spot a wrong-way vehicle. Drivers are urged to call 911 immediately and provide as much detail as possible, rather than trying to flag down or confront the driver themselves, according to FOX8 WGHP.
