Jefferson County ,NC:Two people killed in I-40 crash on early Sunday ,August 9th 2015

Two passengers in an SUV from North Carolina were killed and several people suffered injuries early Sunday when the vehicle hit the back of a pickup and then veered out of control.

The dead were identified as Ashley Roberts, 21, of Flat Rock, N.C., and Alexander T. White, 23, of Swannanoa, N.C. They were riding in a 1997 Toyota Forerunner. Also injured in the Toyota were passengers Daniel Gonzales, 21, and Andrew Fletcher, 18, and driver James P. Redmon, 21, also of Swannanoa, N.C.

Criminal charges are pending the investigation, according to the THP.

Redmon, Roberts and White were not wearing seatbelts, according to a report from Tennessee Highway Patrol Trooper Barry Jarnagin.

About 12:15 a.m. Sunday, the Toyota hit the back of an eastbound 2004 Ford pickup driven by Timothy O. McBride, 49, of Big Stone Gap, Va. The crash occurred near mile marker 410 near Dandridge, according to Jarnagin's report.

The Ford pulled to the right shoulder. The Toyota rolled, ejecting the two passengers, according to the report.

In the trooper's opinion, seatbelts would have made a difference for those injured and killed.

Source:

2 from NC killed in I-40 crash in Jefferson County