Crash between 18-wheeler and SUV leaves 2 dead in Zebulon

Two people were killed in a crash between a tractor-trailer and an SUV in Zebulon, according to officials.

Posted 3:00 p.m. Jun 22 — Updated 2:42 p.m. Jun 25

Carly Haynes

, WRAL reporter

ZEBULON, N.C. — Two people were killed in a crash between a tractor-trailer and an SUV on Thursday morning, according to officials.

The crash happened on Zebulon Road and King of Kings Court – on a stretch of road where the Hopkins Fire Department says authorities have seen multiple wrecks with fatalities, often due to speeding. It's not known yet whether speeding or Thursday morning's wet conditions played a role in this specific crash, however.

The call for the crash came in around 9:11 a.m., and officials shut down roads minutes after.

Neighbors said the tractor-trailer driver was alert and talking. The two people killed were inside the SUV, neighbors said.

According to neighbors, two dogs inside the SUV were ejected and killed in the crash.

Steven Outlaw lives nearby the crash.

"Their animals, their dogs, themselves, everything came out of that [SUV]," Outlaw said.

The 18-wheeler tractor-trailer slid into Marcia Adkins' front yard.

"I heard a loud bang," Adkins said. "It kind of sounded like thunder at first."

Adkins then called 911 and checked out the scene. She said the tractor-trailer driver was alert.

"He was ok," Adkins said. "And, I feel bad for the families who were involved of course, and I hope that they get the answers that they need."

Outlaw explained what he saw during the crash.

"I mean, it was crazy," Outlaw said. "And then, everything went deadly silent.

"Then, come to find out, there was death on that side of the road."

An investigation is taking place, and more details will be released as they become available.

Prior crashes along Zebulon Road

Zebulon Road, also known as North Carolina Highway 96, has had dozens of crashes through the years.

In March, WRAL Investigates reviewed North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) crash data along a two-mile stretch of N.C. Highway 96 around Mitchell Mill Road.

There have been 73 crashes in the last five years as of March. The crashes resulted in one death and 37 injures. It includes the February 2022 crash when a 16-year-old boy was killed in a crash while walking to Mitchell's Food Market.

"[It's] a pretty wicked road," Outlaw said of Zebulon Road.

Crashes, property damage and death: Family wants speed limit lowered on N.C. 96

Suggest A Correction