Interstate 95 near Salisbury was shut down twice yesterday, after a series of accidents that killed one and sent another four to the hospital.

The first was a trucking accident that happened early Wednesday morning when a tractor-trailer driver lost control of his vehicle and crashed into a bridge. Witnesses reported that the truck's left-front tire blew as the driver was attempting to pass another car.

The driver was ejected from his vehicle and died at the scene. Thankfully, no one else was injured.

The Highway patrol is investigating the accident - at this point they do not know whether the truck accident was caused by driver error or by mechanical failure.

The second accident occurred at approximately 8:30 Wednesday evening. That collision was caused when a driver improperly entered an adjoining lane, sending both his vehicle and another careening into a guard rail.

Apparently, the driver had swerved to avoid a traffic cone, causing him to broadside the other vehicle. All four occupants of the vehicle that was hit were taken by ambulance to Rowan Regional Medical Center. The driver who caused the car accident was cited for his failure to stay in his lane.

Both accidents caused several lanes of the highway to be closed as authorities worked to clean up the debris and make the roadway safe for travel.

High Speed Driving Leads to Dangerous Situations

These accidents are a tragic illustration of the damage that can happen when drivers lose control of vehicles traveling at high speeds. Sometimes, as may be true with the truck accident, a driver loses control because his vehicle malfunctions. Other times, as with the second accident, a driver fails to pay attention to the road and swerves to miss an obstacle he should have been aware of. When a vehicle is traveling at highway speeds, it can be extremely difficult to regain control.

Sadly, sometimes these accidents result in serious injury or even death. If you or a loved one has been affected by a North Carolina highway accident, contact an experienced personal injury attorney who can help you understand your rights.

Source: Salisbury Post, "Crash Snarls Traffic on I-85 Hours After Trucker Dies in Wreck," Nathan Hardin, Jan. 19, 2012.