In The News

Troopers say driver fell asleep before wreck

NEWTON GROVE, N.C. — Investigators say it appears a truck driver fell asleep before his 18-wheeler slammed into a bridge on a North Carolina interstate highway, killing him.

The Fayetteville Observer reported Wednesday that the Highway Patrol identified the driver as 26-year-old Sidney Williams of Raleigh. The wreck happened about 2:30 a.m. Tuesday on Interstate 40 in Sampson County.

Trooper D.M. Kidd said the truck was hauling produce when it hit a bridge support at the Suttontown Road exit. Kidd said there was no evidence that the truck’s brakes were used as it drifted off the road at about 70 mph.

The interstate was closed for several hours while engineers inspected the bridge.

Jerry Breeden of The Trucker staff can be reached for comment at [email protected] .