One killed in head-on crash involving fuel tanker on I-40 in Pender County

PENDER COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — One person was killed and another suffered minor injuries in a head-on crash involving a passenger vehicle and an empty fuel tanker Thursday afternoon on Interstate 40 in Pender County, according to the North Carolina State Highway Patrol.

A Highway Patrol source said the crash happened near the 393-mile marker in the Watha area.

According to investigators, the driver of a passenger vehicle traveling west on I-40 lost control, crossed the median through the cable barrier and entered the eastbound lanes, where the vehicle collided head-on with an empty fuel tanker truck.

The driver of the passenger vehicle was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the tanker truck suffered minor injuries.

The crash prompted the closure of portions of Interstate 40 Thursday afternoon. As of Thursday evening, one eastbound lane remained closed while crews worked to remove the damaged tanker and clean up spilled diesel fuel. The passenger vehicle has already been removed from the scene.

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