Retired Lenoir firefighter dead in series of fatal collisions on I-40 in Iredell County

A retired city of Lenoir firefighter died in a motorcycle crash on I-40 in Iredell County Saturday morning, the fire department posted on social media.

Gary Sanders was driving his motorcycle when he crashed into a tractor-trailer slowed by cleanup from a previous fatal wreck between Sharon School Road and Old Mountain Road.

A procession was held for Sanders on Saturday.

Sanders served the Lenoir community for 30 years and was part of the Red Knights Motorcycle Club.

Members of the community who didn't know Sanders were saddened by his death believing he probably responded to one of their emergencies at one point in his career.

"I'm saddened by it because they've come to the house and helped us out,” community member Bruce Dupuis said. “They've come to my neighbor's house and helped them out."

“Gary served the citizens of Lenoir faithfully and fully for 30 years,” the social media post said. “He was a friend, father, and mentor to so many and he will be sorely missed by everyone he ever came in contact with. Gary your job here on earth is done, rest easy and we will take it from here.

- Your brothers and sisters from Lenoir Fire.”

(Gary Sanders, photo courtesy of City of Lenoir Fire Department)

Sanders' death was one of two people killed in a series of collisions that closed a North Carolina interstate for several hours on I-40 in Iredell County.

Troopers said that the people killed in the wrecks early Saturday were a tractor-trailer driver and a motorcyclist.

According to the Highway Patrol, the road was closed between Sharon School Road and Old Mountain Road on I-40 westbound and eastbound, but reopened around 9 a.m.

West Iredell Fire Department Chief Jerry Houston said the truck collided with another vehicle west of Statesville around 4 a.m., causing the truck to overturn in the median. The driver, whose name hasn't been released, was pronounced dead at the scene. Three others were taken to hospitals.

Houston said a second fatal wreck happened about a mile away just before 8 a.m. when a motorcyclist, Sanders, was approaching traffic stopped by the first accident.

Houston said the motorcycle hit the back of another vehicle, and Sanders died.

“Traffic, traffic, that's really all we can see,” driver Roger Shook said. “All I can see is the backed-up traffic. There are people out walking, stretching their legs.”

Cox Media Group