One woman is dead and six others were injured when a tractor-trailer crashed into three cars on U.S. Highway 70 Monday in Johnston County.
At 1:06 p.m., WMPD Officers were dispatched to the area of US 70 Eastbound at Swift Creek Road after a tractor-trailer collided with three cars.
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One of the drivers, 79-year-old Bonnie Wheatley, of Raleigh, was pronounced dead at the scene. Her husband, who was in the passenger seat, survived and was taken to the hospital with serious injuries.
Six other people were injured in the two additional cars, along with the driver of the tractor-trailer. They were all taken to local hospitals.
North Carolina State Highway Patrol said the tractor-trailer did not slow down for a lane closure, leading to the crash. The driver of the tractor-trailer, 77-year-old Robert Wallace, of Smithfield, has been charged with misdemeanor death by motor vehicle.
A photo showed firefighters removing a car pinned between a guardrail and a trailer.
All eastbound lanes of U.S. 70 were closed near Swift Creek Road in the Wilson's Mills community until about 5:45 p.m.
Sky 5 flew over the crash site at 3 p.m. All eastbound lanes were closed, and a red car pushed up against the guardrail was totaled.
The tractor-trailer, which hit the guardrail, did not appear to be badly damaged.
Members of Wheatley's family shared the following statement with WRAL News:
"Bonnie Wheatley worked for many years as a librarian in the Wake County Public School System and later in Volunteer Services at Meredith College. More importantly, she was a loving mother to her two daughters, Kathleen and Emily, and a devoted, playful, imaginative grandmother to four grandchildren. She was married to Dr. Jack Wheatley for nearly 56 years before she was tragically taken from us too soon on her 79th birthday. Our family welcomes your thoughts and prayers for our dad as he struggles to overcome the injuries he suffered, especially his broken heart."