23-year-old killed in weekend wrong-way crash on I-140

NEW HANOVER COUNTY, N.C. (WECT) - A 23-year-old man was killed early Saturday when a wrong-way driver slammed head-on into his car on Interstate 140 near the U.S. 40 exit, the N.C. Highway Patrol said.

Trooper Zack Bridgers said the crash was reported around 4:47 a.m. on July 11. He said 52-year-old William Francis Raybourn was driving the wrong way in the interstate’s eastbound and westbound lanes when his vehicle collided with a white Mitsubishi.

The Mitsubishi’s driver, Timothy Hunter Bradford, died at the scene, Bridgers said. Raybourn was taken to the hospital.

Raybourn was charged with misdemeanor death by motor vehicle, driving the wrong way, reckless driving and exceeding the posted speed limit, Bridgers said.