IREDELL COUNTY, N.C. — Highway 70 in Iredell County is back open following a deadly crash that shut down the eastbound lanes for hours.
Troopers said the victims were in a car that hit two different tractor-trailers within a few minutes of each other.
Troopers said the car was involved in a separate accident heading westbound on I-70 before it jumped a median, hitting a second tractor-trailer.
“The truck driver that was involved. He's pretty shaken up about it,” North Carolina Highway Patrol Trooper Marla Powell said.
Powell said the driver of the truck was on his way to pick up bricks in Salisbury around 9 a.m. when he was hit by the car traveling in the opposite direction.
“He said the vehicle coming across the median and there was nothing he could do,” Powell said.
Right before the car collided with the tractor-trailer Powell said the driver was involved in a hit-and-run just off Triplett Road.
The driver came down the hill and unexpectedly veered left into the tractor-trailer.
“The car was damaged very badly. It was an angle impact. The passenger's side was completely caved into the driver’s side,” Powell said.
Troopers said the driver, Saypasong Sayavong, 24, and his passenger, Olivia Harris, 26 of Mooresville both died in the crash.
“As far as I know from my knowledge. I was advised they were boyfriend and girlfriend,” Powell said.
Troopers used 3D technology to recreate the crash as part of their investigation into what happened.
Powell said in her six years on the force she has only seen two fatal crashes on the same stretch of I-70.
Troopers told Channel 9 the driver of the tractor-trailer won't face any charges.
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