WINDSOR — A 42-year-old man from Merry Hill was killed in a single-vehicle crash Thursday night after his car struck two trees along a rural road in Bertie County.
According to the North Carolina State Highway Patrol, the fatal accident occurred at approximately 8:55 p.m. along Ashland Church Road near Black Rock Road.
Troopers say Derrick Spruill was driving east in a 2003 Hyundai Sonata when his vehicle ran off the right side of the road and hit a tree that had previously fallen across the roadway. After the initial impact, Spruill’s vehicle re-entered the road, crossed the centerline, and then veered off the left side of the road, striking another tree.
Spruill was pronounced dead at the scene.
Investigators confirmed there were no other passengers in the car at the time of the crash. They also noted that Spruill was not wearing a seatbelt.
The investigation into the collision is ongoing, but authorities have not released information suggesting that speed, alcohol, or other factors played a role.
State Highway Patrol troopers are reminding drivers to stay alert on rural roads, especially during the evening hours when visibility may be reduced, and to always wear seatbelts, even for short trips.
Ashland Church Road remained partially closed for a period Thursday night as emergency personnel responded and investigators worked to reconstruct the crash scene.
No additional details were immediately available.