Pink Hill man dies in wreck with semi
By Nick Hiltunen
Published in News on February 1, 2009 2:00 AM
A Pink Hill man was killed on N.C. 111 South after his pickup crossed a double-yellow line and slammed head-on into an 18-wheeler Friday, authorities said.
David Scott Herring, 49, of Burncoat Road, was dead at the scene, about 3.6 miles from Kenansville in Duplin County, Highway Patrol Trooper B.D. Wallace said.
Herring was ejected in the 12:30 p.m. crash, and authorities believe he was not wearing a seat belt.
The 18-wheel semi truck was driven by Robert Wallace, 42, of Warsaw, who was not injured in the accident, the trooper said. Wallace was wearing a seat belt, Wallace said.
Investigating authorities said they could not figure out why Herring had crossed the double-yellow line, and that there were no markings on the road to indicate Herring had tried to stop.
"There were no signs of braking. We have no idea why he crossed the line," Wallace said. "That's all I can really say right now, is he crossed the double-yellow line, and it was a head-on collision."
The trooper said there were no visible signs of alcohol on the scene, and said "not at this time" when asked if he suspected alcohol was a factor.
Wallace said he did not know if Herring would be taken to the state medical examiner's office in Chapel Hill for an autopsy.