A truck driver was killed on Saturday after his truck was blown over by strong winds from tropical storm Hermine.
The incident occurred on the Alligator River Bridge section of US64 in Columbia, North Carolina, shortly before 10 a.m.
According to the North Carolina Department of Public Safety, the truck was traveling west, but was pushed into the eastbound lanes by strong winds before overturning. The truck landed on the bridge’s guardrail, which crushed the cab of the truck. The 64-year-old truck driver, whose name was not released, is believed to have died on impact.
The driver’s company, Harris Teeter, confirmed that the driver worked for the company for 12 years and was recently honored for his safe driving record.
The National Hurricane Center reported wind gusts of up to 80 miles per hour in the Alligator River area around the time of the crash.
Update: The Virginian-Pilot reports that wind gusts of up to 116 miles per hour were recorded on the bridge on the day of the crash.
