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2 dead, 3 hospitalized after I-40 crash in Hickory

By Joe Bruno, wsoctv.com
By Joe Bruno, wsoctv.com

CATAWBA COUNTY, N.C. — Officials are investigating a crash on Interstate 40 that left two people dead and three injured Friday.

It happened at 7:49 a.m. in the westbound lanes of I-40 near exit 123 in Hickory.

A witness told Channel 9 he was driving eastbound when another car clipped him, sending them both into the median.

"I tried to save it," Andy Gantt, the driver of the eastbound car, said. "I saved mine in the ditch but they were unlucky.

Gantt stopped his van but the other vehicle went into the westbound lanes and was hit by oncoming traffic.

Four people were in the car, two died in the crash.

Officials identified the two people who died as Joeann Dover, 67, and Lizzie Williams of Lawndale. They are family members, troopers said. They were in the backseat of the van and not wearing seatbelts.

The other two, and the driver of the westbound car, were taken to the hospital.

"It's such a horrible accident," Gantt said.

Troopers are talking to witnesses and have not released the names of the victims.

I-40 westbound was shut down for close to two hours before the scene was cleared.

The North Carolina Highway Patrol is investigating the crash.

Two people died Friday morning in a crash on Interstate 40 in Hickory and two others were hospitalized.

The westbound lanes of I-40 near exit 123 have reopened after being closed for over an hour.

Channel 9’s Joe Bruno talked to witnesses about the moments that led up to the wreck.

“I tried to save it. I saved mine (vehicle) in the ditch, but they were unlucky,” Gantt said.

Gantt was heading eastbound Friday morning when he said a car clipped his van, sending them both into the median.

  • PRESS PLAY to watch raw video from the scene--

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Gantt was able to stop his van, but the other vehicle went into the westbound lanes and was hit by oncoming traffic.
Four people were in the car. Two were killed and the other two were injured.
“It's such a horrible accident. I have no words to say,” Gantt said.

https://twitter.com/FahertyWSOC9/status/644854929455251457

The westbound driver who struck the other vehicle is also in the hospital, but troopers said the injuries are non-life-threatening.
Traffic was backed up for several miles on I-40 for more than an hour.
Troopers are talking to witnesses to learn more about what led up to the crash.
"I'm super sad. This is very unexpected,” Gantt said.
The two people who died were sitting in the back seat of the car. Troopers are notifying their families and have not yet identified them.

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