GASTON COUNTY, N.C. — Troopers with North Carolina Highway Patrol said black ice caused three separate crashes, including one that killed a man, on the same stretch of Interstate 85 south in Gastonia on Sunday morning.
Investigators said Berhane Gebretsadik, 33, of Gastonia died as a result of his injuries in crash that occurred near mile marker 25 around 2:30 a.m.
Troopers believe Gebretsadik drove over a patch of black ice, lost control of his car, went off the right side of the road and struck some trees.
IMAGES: Troopers say black ice caused fatal I-85 car accident
The impact of the crash caused the car to catch fire.
A passerby noticed the crash and attempted to help but Gebretsadik was pronounced dead at the scene.
Gebretsadik, who is a driver by profession, was the only person in the car and on his way home from work when the crash happened.
Relatives said he and his wife are expecting their first child. The woman is approximately 6 months pregnant.
Troopers said speed was not a factor in the crash.
Approximately five hours following his crash, troopers said two more drivers hit the same patch of black ice and spun out of the control.
The call for service on the second accident came in around 7:06 a.m. and the third call came in around 8:06 a.m., according to HWY Patrol.
Troopers confirmed crews with NC Department of Transportation were called to the scene to treat the slick road with a mixture of salt and sand.
Channel 9 reached out to DOT. A spokesperson said on behalf of the department their thoughts and prayers go out to the family. The spokesperson also directed Channel 9 to its severe weather response online when asked if DOT was monitoring the temperatures and conditions of the roads Saturday night.
Gebretsadik's family said he was a great man who was taken too soon.
The crashes remain under investigation.
WSOC
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