Fatal I-95 Fuel Tanker Crash Near Smithfield

Interstate 95 in Smithfield was shut down Sunday following a fatal crash involving a fuel tanker. At 6:16am, a tanker that had just filled up in Selma and was headed to Fayetteville, overturned in the median near the Brogden Road Exit.

The driver, Bryan Cook, 25, of Erwin, ran off the roadway into the soft median and struck the guardrail near the 93 mile marker causing the truck to overturn. Cook, who was wearing a seat belt, died from injuries received in the crash. Impairment and speed were not involved, according to the Highway Patrol.

  • A fatal crash involving a fuel tanker March 7, 2021 shut down Interstate 95 in Smithfield and caused significant traffic delays. Photo by John Payne
  • A fatal crash involving a fuel tanker March 7, 2021 shut down Interstate 95 in Smithfield and caused significant traffic delays. Photo by John Payne
  • A fatal crash involving a fuel tanker March 7, 2021 shut down Interstate 95 in Smithfield and caused significant traffic delays. Photo by John Payne
  • A fatal crash involving a fuel tanker March 7, 2021 shut down Interstate 95 in Smithfield and caused significant traffic delays. Photo by John Payne

Approximately 4,000 gallons of gasoline spilled from the overturned tanker.

Several fire departments responded to the crash, along with Johnston Emergency Services, Johnston County EMS, the NC Department of Transportation and State Highway Patrol.

Traffic has been detoured off I-95 onto Highway 301 causing significant delays. The interstate is expected to reopen by 5:00pm this afternoon.

Crews will return to the scene next week to complete the cleanup and replace the damaged median guardrail.

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6 COMMENTS

  1. where is the news from 3/2/2021 near the same location where a woman broke her neck and a 18 wheeler fire.

  2. Rather than getting rid of pipelines, seems to me, we need more of them. Just saying…..

  5. Don’t know the true cause of this accident, but I’ve seen it more times that not on 95 with drivers whipping around these truckers, cutting them off, on their phones, etc. These 18-wheelers can’t brake and maneuver around other driver stupidity like normal car/SUV drivers can. People need to learn how to respect one another again, on and off the road. We will never know how many lives this young man saved by keeping this a one-truck accident, regardless the cause of it. Praying for this young man’s family.

    • I have known this man and his parents since he was about 13 years old. He leaves behind 2 little boys a wife and his parents. I am so heart broken for him and his family..I have 4 grown children of my own I could not imagine getting that phone call.. RIP Byran!!😢💔

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