LEXINGTON, N.C. - An airplane crashed into a tractor-trailer on Wednesday along I-85 in Davidson County, North Carolina, killing the pilot and sparking a fire along the interstate, authorities said.A twin-engine Beechcraft Barron crashed into a 2016 Freightliner tractor-trailer on the southbound side of the interstate near the Davidson County Airport in Lexington just before 5:15 p.m., North Carolina state highway patrol said.The plane was taking off from the airport when it lost altitude "for unknown reasons" and crashed into the tractor-trailer, officials said.
The tractor-trailer overturned and another vehicle, a 2019 Ford truck also headed southbound, was damaged from the debris of the initial collision.
The pilot, who was the sole occupant, died at the scene and was later identified as Raymond John Ackley, 43, from Charlotte.
The driver of the tractor-trailer, identified as 41-year-old Barrin Davis, of Concord, was taken to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, authorities said.