Fatal head-on crash on I-140 in New Hanover County under investigation

NEW HANOVER COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — A 23-year-old man was killed early Sunday morning in a wrong-way crash on Interstate 140, while the other driver involved remains hospitalized with serious injuries.

According to the North Carolina State Highway Patrol, the crash happened around 4:47 a.m. Sunday when troopers were dispatched to a report of a wrong-way driver on I-140 near the U.S. 40 exit.

Investigators said 52-year-old William Francis Raybourn was traveling eastbound in the westbound lanes of I-140 when his vehicle collided head-on with another vehicle driven by 23-year-old Timothy Hunter Bradford.

Bradford died as a result of injuries sustained in the crash.

Raybourn was transported to Novant Health New Hanover Regional Medical Center, where he remains hospitalized. Officials said he is in stable condition but has extensive injuries. He has not been taken into custody at this time while he continues receiving medical treatment.

Trooper Zack Bridgers with the North Carolina State Highway Patrol provided details about the investigation and said the circumstances leading up to the wrong-way crash remain under investigation.

Authorities have not released additional information about what caused Raybourn to enter the wrong lanes of travel.

The North Carolina State Highway Patrol continues to investigate the crash.