New Bern, NC : One person was killed and another injured when a box truck rear-ended a semi-truck on Tuesday, August 8, 2017

One person was killed and another injured when a box truck rear-ended a semi-truck Tuesday on the U.S. 17 bypass in New Bern.

The unmarked, white truck had two people, a driver and passenger, when it struck the 18-wheeler with such force that the passenger side of the entire vehicle was destroyed. It was ground under the semi’s trailer in the crash that happened around noon.

The wreck happened near mile marker 144 in the southbound lane of the U.S. 17 bypass. The two southbound lanes of the divided highway were blocked for about two hours. The two northbound lanes remained open, though traffic slowed in the area as drivers looked at the wreckage.

The driver of the semi, which according to a magnetic sign was with “Passport Transport Inc.,” said he did not see the smaller truck closing in on his vehicle until it struck.

“He was going really fast,” he said.

The Passport driver was uninjured, and the truck trailer was empty.

Numerous highway patrol officers were at the scene, assisted by several Craven County deputies. Rhems and West of New Bern Volunteer Fire Departments assisted at the scene.

The highway patrol is investigating, and release of the names of those involved is pending notification of next of kin.

Source :
Fatal wreck ties up U.S. 17 bypass