Deadly crash in Burke County involving minivan, tractor-trailer shuts down I-40, NCSHP says

BURKE COUNTY, N.C. — Two people are dead after a car accident involving a tractor-trailer in Burke County on Thursday, according to the North Carolina State Highway Patrol.

Troopers say the accident happened just before noon on I-40 West near Old N.C. Highway 10 near Connelly Springs.

NCSHP says a 2009 Honda Odyssey was heading west on I-40 West, failed to slow down, and hit a 2020 Freightliner tractor-trailer that was slowing down in the right lane because of construction.

Officials say the driver of the Odyssey, Ryan Lee Childers, 44, from Valdese, died from his injuries. Melissa Louise Childers, 44, also from Valdese, died from her injuries at the scene. They were the only two people in the Odyssey, and neither of them was wearing a seatbelt.

The driver of the tractor-trailer, Dakota Matthews, 57, from Enville, TN, was not hurt.

Troopers closed the highway for two hours to investigate the crash and said impairment wasn’t a factor. No charges will be filed in this incident.

I-40 West reopened just after 2:15 p.m.

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