One killed in wrecks on icy roads in Duplin, Sampson counties

Investigators said Mindy Burnett was traveling near mile marker 388 between 5:45 and 6:30 a.m. when she hit the truck, which had slowed because of two other wrecks caused by icy roads in the area.

A toddler in the car with Burnett was unhurt, troopers said.

Sleet and freezing rain fell in parts of Sampson and Duplin counties early Friday, causing dozens of wrecks from vehicles sliding on black ice.

Prior to the fatal wreck, a Toyota pickup truck hit an icy patch and ran off the road. A short time later, a tractor-trailer jackknifed on a bridge and ran into the median of the highway.

In Sampson County, a tractor-trailer carrying chickens overturned on N.C. Highway 41 East near the U.S. Highway 421 intersection. It was unclear if anyone was hurt.

Duplin County schools were closed Friday due to the slick conditions. In Sampson County, the Union District cluster of school posted a two-hour delay then decided before 8 a.m. to close for the day. 

Sampson County schools spokeswoman Susan Warren said communities along U.S. Highway 421, including Delway, Harrells and Ivanhoe had the worst road conditions.

Other schools in southeastern North Carolina posted delays, including Brunswick and Pender County.

State Department of Transportation crews were putting down salt as temperatures, which held below freezing for more than 24 hours, started to climb Friday morning.

The long-term weather outlook keeps a chill in the air through the next seven days, according to WRAL meteorologist Elizabeth Gardner.

Saturday promises to be the most sunny day of the weekend, then clouds move back in Sunday and the work week sees the likelihood of light rain each day.