Off-duty first responder dies in wreck, officials say

NORWOOD, N.C. — An off-duty Stanly County first responder died Tuesday morning in a wreck while on his way to work, the Norwood Police Department chief said.

Lt. William Oxendine, of Norwood, was driving a 2018 GMC Kenya pickup truck north on Highway 52 at about 7 a.m. when it collided with a southbound logging truck in front of the Marathon gas station in Norwood.

He was airlifted to a hospital and later died.

Oxendine served the community for more than 20 years.

He was a paramedic with Stanly County EMS and a volunteer firefighter with Center Rural Fire and Rescue Department.

“This is a tragic loss for our community,” Norwood Police Chief James Wilson said.

There were no other injuries.

No citations were issued and there were no charges as of Tuesday.

The crash investigation is ongoing.