STATESVILLE, N.C. – A man has been charged after two people were killed in a crash on I-77 in Iredell County on Saturday night, according to the North Carolina State Highway Patrol.
It happened around 10 p.m. on I-77 South near mile marker 62.
Troopers said a 2006 F-250 was heading south on I-77 when it struck a southbound 2023 Kia Sportage. The collision caused both vehicles to travel off the right side of the road and hit a guardrail, causing the Kia to overturn.
The Kia driver, 47-year-old Jessica Lyndsay Horton and another passenger were ejected from the vehicle. Both died at the scene.
The Ford driver, 31-year-old Benjamin Overton, was not injured.
The preliminary investigation found that excessive speed and impairment were contributing factors in the crash, the highway patrol said.
Overton was arrested and charged with the following:
- Driving While Impaired
- Careless and Reckless Driving
- Felony Death By Vehicle, 2 counts
- Driving While License Revoked
Overton received a $2,500,000 bond. He is being held at the Iredell County Detention Center.
Troopers said additional charges are pending as the investigation continues.
I-77 South was closed for approximately 10 hours while troopers conducted the on-site investigation.
