1 killed after truck drives over oncoming car in Cleveland County

CLEVELAND COUNTY, N.C. — A deadly crash is under investigation after one person was killed Monday morning in Cleveland County.

Chopper 9 Skyzoom flew over the scene on Clineland Road, which is just outside of Cherryville, and found a pickup truck that was on top of a passenger car.

Channel 9’s Ken Lemon talked to witnesses at the scene who said the pickup truck tried to pass over a double yellow line when the truck hit the car. The crash happened just before 9:30 a.m.

The North Carolina State Highway Patrol was spotted at the scene investigating the crash, and we’re still waiting on more details to be confirmed.

“Oh gosh, it was surreal,” Billy Lowe told Lemon on Monday.

Lowe was driving home when the driver of the truck tried to pass him. He says the truck driver made his move as the car was coming from the other direction.

“The driver of the truck saw him at the last minute and turned left, the driver of the Toyota turned right,” Lowe said.

But they couldn’t avoid the crash.

Ken Lemon saw women standing at the entrance to their neighborhood in tears. They say they heard the crash from their homes about a quarter of a mile away.

“It just scares me to hear something like that,” said Mary Causby.

They said it sounded like someone emptying a dumpster next door.

“I feel sorry for whatever had happened,” said Robin Hamby.

Firefighters at the scene said all of the people inside the car were adults. One person in the car died, and two more victims were rushed to the hospital. The victims haven’t been identified yet.

Lowe said he saw first responders airlift one of the victims in the wrecked car. He said there were three young people in the truck -- they didn’t have serious injuries, but they were scared.

“Emotionally, they’re very, very upset,” Lowe said.

A woman crying at the scene told Lemon that she was the mother of the truck driver. She asked for prayers, saying her son is facing charges.

Channel 9 learned that the driver is being charged with misdemeanor death by vehicle and was cited for crossing the double-yellow line.

Lowe said his heart goes out to the people in the car whose lives are forever changed.

We’re working on getting more information on the identities of the people involved. This is a developing story, check back for updates.

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