A 61-year-old Gaston County man died this morning after he drove his car into the back of a parked tractor-trailer along I-85 in Gastonia.
The crash happened around 11 am on I-85 South near mile marker 15, close to Bessemer City Road. According to the Gastonia Police Department, the driver veered off the highway and hit the rear of a semi tractor-trailer that had been pulled onto the shoulder.
Police said the tractor-trailer had stopped due to a mechanical issue. The truck driver had placed reflective warning cones behind the vehicle before the collision. Authorities confirmed the truck driver was not cited and no other injuries were reported.
The right lane of I-85 South remained closed for more than three hours as emergency crews responded and investigators worked the scene. By 2:45 p.m., officials said the crash site was being cleared, though traffic backups continued to linger.
Police are still investigating what caused the driver to leave the roadway.
