NC-87 reopens following deadly accident near Delco

COLUMBUS COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — Both lanes of NC-87 have been reopened following a deadly accident.

A section of NC-87 had been closed to traffic in both directions for several hours due to a crash, according to the North Carolina Department of Transportation.

NC Highway Patrol said the call came in at 11:20 Monday night on NC-87 near Old NC-87 in the vicinity of Riegelwood.

NCDOT first reported the closure at 11:51 p.m., and the lanes reopened around noon on Tuesday.

NC Highway Patrol said a tractor trailer carrying 4,000 gallons of unleaded fuel and 4,000 gallons of diesel was traveling north on NC-87 and a van was traveling south on NC-87.

A trooper said the van crossed the center line and hit the tractor trailer head on.

Following a head-on collision, the tanker trailer became separated from the tractor. It went downhill, exploded and caught on fire.

NC Highway Patrol said the wooded area on both sides of the bridge caught on fire.

The driver of the van, 55-year-old Theophilus Lavern Everett of Navassa, was killed.

The passenger of the van was taken by Airlink to Novant New Hanover Regional Medical Center.

The driver of the tractor trailer was taken by ambulance to Novant New Hanover Regional Medical Center.