PITT COUNTY, N.C. — A Friday afternoon drive ended in tragedy in Pitt County after a Greenville woman was killed in a crash involving a log truck along NC Highway 118. The fatal collision forced the busy roadway to shut down for several hours as emergency crews responded and investigators worked to determine what went wrong.
According to the North Carolina State Highway Patrol, troopers were called to the scene around 2:30 p.m. Friday at the intersection of NC Highway 118 and Cannon Price Road. When first responders arrived, they found a severely damaged passenger vehicle and a commercial log truck, with debris scattered across the roadway.
Troopers identified the victim as Cara Gardner, 23, of Greenville. Investigators said Gardner was driving a Toyota Camry and was attempting to turn left onto NC 118 from Cannon Price Road. At the same time, a log truck was traveling westbound along the highway.
Highway Patrol officials said Gardner failed to yield the right of way, causing her vehicle to collide with the log truck. The impact was violent, and Gardner suffered fatal injuries in the crash. She was pronounced dead at the scene, marking a devastating loss for her family and the Greenville community.
The force of the collision caused the log truck to veer off the road. Troopers said the truck ran into a ditch along the highway and overturned, spilling logs and debris across the area. The driver of the log truck was able to survive the crash, and authorities did not report any life-threatening injuries.
Due to the severity of the wreck, NC Highway 118 remained closed for about three hours Friday afternoon. The closure allowed investigators to examine the scene and crews to remove the overturned truck and scattered logs from the roadway. Traffic delays were reported as drivers were forced to find alternate routes.
The North Carolina State Highway Patrol continues to investigate the crash. Officials are reminding drivers to be especially cautious at intersections and to always yield when entering a highway. Gardner’s death serves as a tragic reminder of how quickly a routine turn can turn fatal, leaving loved ones to grieve an unexpected and heartbreaking loss.
