The crash in Gastonia closed I-85 North at Exit 23 early Friday.
GASTON COUNTY, N.C. — One person was killed and another person was injured in a wrong-way crash on Interstate 85 in Gaston County early Friday, officials said.
It happened in Gastonia near mile marker 23 on Interstate 85 North. All northbound lanes were temporarily closed at Exit 23 for several hours while crews investigated the crash and cleared the scene.
Gaston County Communications was alerted to a wrong-way driver on I-85 shortly before the wreck happened. When officers arrived, they found a 2021 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van and a 2015 Hyundai Elantra involved in a serious collision. Officers determined the Hyundai was traveling the wrong way when it crashed into the Sprinter.
The driver of the Hyundai, 23-year-old Jorge Narino of Charlotte, died at the scene. The driver of the Mercedes-Benz was taken to a local hospital with minor injuries. That driver is expected to be OK.
A WCNC Charlotte crew on the scene saw two cars towed away from the scene shortly before 6 a.m., leading to a return to normal traffic flow.
Police are continuing to investigate the crash.
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