Deadly crash involving logging truck shuts down I-77 in Iredell County

STATESVILLE, N.C. — Interstate 77 northbound was shut down for hours Wednesday morning in Iredell County after a deadly crash involving a car and a logging truck, according to the Highway Patrol.

The crash happened just before 9 a.m. on I-77 northbound in Statesville, north of Interstate 40.

Investigators said eyewitnesses described seeing a 2005 Toyota Scion driving erratically moments before the crash, at one point striking the center guardrail before cutting in front of the logging struck.

The logging truck overturned and lost several logs on the roadway.

Authorities told Channel 9's Dave Faherty the driver of the Toyota Scion, who was later identified as  27-year-old Henry Alexander Gonzalez Rodriguez died at the scene.

"They were trying to perform CPR," truck driver Brandy Merritt said. "There was no need for me to go up and help because there were plenty of people up there so I detoured traffic. They did the best they could."

The driver of the logging truck was checked out by EMS, but was not hurt.

Troopers said no charges are expected.

The interstate completely reopened around 2:15 p.m.

Check back with wsoctv.com for more information.

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