x
Breaking News
More () »

Woman charged after tractor-trailer driver seriously injured in fiery crash on Business 85

Troopers charged the 52-year-old woman with unsafe movement and exceeding the posted speed.

HIGH POINT, N.C. — A woman is facing charges after a fiery crash left a tractor-trailer driver seriously injured on Business 85 in High Point. 

NC State Highway Patrol charged Mary Vanhoy Barker, 52, of Thomasville, with unsafe movement and exceeding the posted speed.

Troopers said Douglas Eugene Miller, 61, of High Point was traveling south on Business 85 driving a 2024 Freightliner pulling an enclosed van semi-trailer.  Barker was also traveling south, driving a 2013 Lexus ES 350 passenger car Thursday around 11:25 a.m. 

Barker merged into the right travel lane, striking Miller.  Miller traveled off the roadway, struck a bridge abutment for the Old Thomasville Road overpass, overturned, and caught fire, according to troopers.

Miller was airlifted to Baptist Medical Center for life-threatening injuries. 

Troopers said he is in serious but stable condition.

The North Carolina Department of Transportation closed Business 85 so that engineers could inspect the Old Thomasville Road bridge, which had been struck in the crash. The NCDOT completed the inspection late Thursday afternoon and has deemed the bridge safe for travel.

All lanes of Business 85 reopened around 6:30 p.m. Thursday.

Credit: Julian Morgan/WFMY
Credit: Julian Morgan/WFMY

Business 85 South(29/70) is shut down at the Old Thomasville Exit. There has been a vehicle accident with fire. Please avoid the area if possible. This will be a lengthy road closure. Be safe!

Posted by Guil-Rand Fire Department on Thursday, May 30, 2024

MORE WAYS TO GET WFMY NEWS 2

Subscribe to our daily newsletter Let’s Get 2 It!

Download the WFMY News 2 APP from your Apple or Google Play store.

ADD THE WFMY+ APP TO YOUR STREAMING DEVICE

ROKU: Add the channel from the ROKU store or search for WFMY.

Amazon Fire TV: Search for WFMY to find the free app to add to your account. You can also add the app directly to your Fire TV through your Amazon account.

Before You Leave, Check This Out