Man dies in Friday accident
By From staff reports
Published in News on May 13, 2012 1:50 AM
A 60-year-old man was killed Friday afternoon after driving his Chevrolet Corvette into the back of a stopped 18-wheeler on U.S. 70 West at 55 miles per hour.
Roger Lanier McDaniel Jr., of Raleigh, was the only passenger in the 1977 sports car about 1:30 p.m. when he struck the tractor trailer that was stopped at the Oak Forest Road intersection, near Toyota of Goldsboro, said state Highway Patrol Sgt. M.A. Kirby.
Mark Pafford, of Rock Hill, S.C., was behind the wheel of the stationary truck.
Kirby said there was no evidence that McDaniel, who was wearing his seat belt, attempted to slow his speed before impact.
After the crash, McDaniel's mangled vehicle came to a stop facing oncoming traffic, Kirby said.
"His car was just destroyed," he said.
Kirby said McDaniel's blood alcohol content will be evaluated, but added there were no factors suggesting he was driving impaired.
Kirby added there was no cell phone found at the accident scene that may have diverted McDaniel's attention before the accident.
Trooper L.J. Bunn investigated the accident.