Driver Dead Near Riverdale When Rear-Ended After Malfunction Causes Vehicle To Lose Power

On the night of December 20, an accident near Riverdale resulted in a person receiving air transport to a hospital for personal injuries and rerouted traffic in both directions on U.S. 70 for more than an hour.

According to Trooper Jose Magana of the North Carolina Highway Patrol, a white Cadillac was eastbound on U.S. 70 had a mechanical failure and lost all power, including lights. Another eastbound vehicle, a Honda minivan, struck the Cadillac from behind at a speed estimated to be between 50 and 60 mph.

Both Township 7 and Township 6 volunteer fire departments responded to the scene, assisted with diverting traffic so that an East Care helicopter could land on the highway, and extracted the Cadillac’s driver with the Jaws of Life.

Magana, who assisted at the scene but was not the lead investigator, did not have the names of the drivers. He said the Cadillac’s driver was airlifted for medical assistance, but the minivan’s occupants were able to walk away from the scene.