Woman struck by car on I-95 median in Halifax County

A woman was killed Sunday afternoon while walking on the median of Interstate 95 in Halifax County after a tractor-trailer lost a drive shaft, causing a three- car wreck, authorities said.

Posted 3:55 a.m. Jul 25, 2011 — Updated 4:05 a.m. Jul 25, 2011

ROANOKE RAPIDS, N.C. — A woman was killed Sunday afternoon while walking on the median of Interstate 95 in Halifax County after a tractor-trailer lost a drive shaft, causing three cars to wreck, authorities said.

Shortly before 4 p.m., Barbara Coppley, 43, of Havelock, was driving a Dodge Caravan north on I-95 near Roanoke Rapids when she hit the drive shaft, causing both of her passenger-side tires to go flat. She pulled onto the median.

A second driver then hit the drive shaft in a Ford Fusion and pulled onto the median.

Coppley began walking toward the tractor-trailer when a third car, a Lincoln Town Car driven by George Cayia, 72, of Ocala, Fla., struck the drive shaft, lost control and struck Coppley.

She died at the scene, authorities said.

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