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Troopers: Man dead in crash involving van, tractor-trailer on Highway 321 in Lincoln County

LINCOLN COUNTY, N.C. — A deadly crash closed the southbound lanes of Highway 321 in Lincoln County for several hours Thursday morning, according to the North Carolina Highway Patrol.

Troopers said they were called to Highway 321, between Maiden Highway and East Main Street in Lincolnton, just before 5 a.m. They said two cars were involved in the crash.

Troopers determined a van was sitting in the right lane of Highway 321 when a tractor-trailer traveling southbound collided with the van.

The driver of the van, Anthony Robert Valverde, 23, died a the scene. The driver of the truck was not hurt.

Channel 9 saw another crash happen after the first on the northbound side of the highway, but that was cleared within a few hours.

Troopers asked drivers to avoid the area while they investigated. The Depart of Transportation initially estimated the highway would be closed until about 10:15 a.m. Thursday.

No other details have been released at this point.

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