BURKE COUNTY, N.C. — A longtime deputy with the Burke County Sheriff’s Office was killed in a crash involving a FedEx truck on Thursday.
The wreck happened around 1:30 p.m. along Highway 181 in the Oak Hill community north of Morganton.
According to the North Carolina State Highway Patrol, a FedEx driver pulled into the path of a pickup truck, causing it to overturn into a guardrail.
The driver of the pickup truck, 67-year-old Rex “Sput” Powell, died from his injuries at the scene.
Powell was a longtime deputy with the sheriff’s office. His last assignment was a part-time school resource officer at local elementary schools.
“During his tenure with the sheriff’s office, Deputy Powell served in various roles, including reserve deputy, patrol deputy, sergeant, detective, civil process deputy, and SRO. Please remember the family in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time,” the department said in a Facebook post.
The driver of the FedEx truck, 27-year-old Talmadge James Belcher, was taken to an area hospital for treatment of minor injuries.
Troopers said an initial investigation does not indicate impairment or speed to be contributing factors in this crash.
However, Belcher has been charged with misdemeanor death by vehicle and failure to yield the right of way.
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