Teen Survives I-95 Crash, But Is Then Fatally Struck By Oncoming Car

The North Carolina Highway Patrol says that a 16-year-old Haitian refugee died of the personal injuries she suffered on the morning of March 15 when she survived a vehicle overturning, only to be fatally struck by an oncoming vehicle in the southbound lane of Interstate 95.

According to Trooper W.C. Townsend, 16-year-old Pennsylvania resident Mattu Dandia died after being hit by an oncoming car shortly after midnight. He said that she and four others had just climbed out of their SUV, which had overturned on the side of the interstate.

Townsend said that no one else involved in either accident was reported to have suffered injuries. He said the crash remains under investigation.

Another wreck happened in the northbound lane of I-95 in that same area approximately 30 minutes later.

According to Trooper Marcus Bethea, in the second crash, a tractor-trailer rear-ended a passenger car, forcing it into the rear of a second 18-wheeler.

The driver of the car, a 73-year-old man, received air transport to UNC Hospitals in Chapel Hill in critical condition.

The tractor-trailer ended up in the woods beside the interstate. Its driver, 73-year-old Jose Gonzalez, received transport to Cape Fear Valley Medical Center in stable condition, according to Bethea.