Troopers: Man drives into closed work zone in Hickory, dies after hitting equipment

HICKORY, N.C. — A man died in a crash on a Hickory highway Tuesday night after he drove through a closed lane in a construction zone, according to the North Carolina State Highway Patrol.

Troopers said they were called at about 7:20 p.m. to the U.S. 321 south bridge over Lake Hickory. They said the left lane there was already closed because of “ongoing bridge repairs in an active work zone between Caldwell and Catawba counties.”

Investigators said a white 1999 Chevrolet Silverado was heading south when it drove into the left lane closure and began passing cars that were in the correct lane.

The truck hit a piece of equipment, a large front-end loader, in the construction zone, troopers said.

The truck driver, Danny Gray Peacock, 64, of Hickory, died at the scene. The person operating the front-end loader was not hurt, according to authorities.

Construction crews started working on the bridge on weeknights in April.

At this point in the investigation, troopers said they think Peacock’s speed and reckless driving contributed to the crash.

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