Three lives were lost before sunrise Saturday on a quiet stretch of NC-87 near Broadway Road in Harnett County. Authorities say a devastating head-on collision around 4:30 a.m. claimed the lives of two service members and a local driver, while leaving another soldier critically injured.
The North Carolina State Highway Patrol reported that a Toyota Camry traveling along NC-87 crossed the center line and collided head-on with a Chevy Z71 pickup truck. The force of the crash shut down the highway in both directions.
Inside the Camry were three passengers, all stationed at Fort Bragg. Two of them died from their injuries at the scene. The third was rushed to a nearby hospital in critical condition. Military officials are holding back their names until families are formally notified.
The driver of the pickup truck was 28-year-old William T. Underwood. Troopers confirmed he died at the scene. Investigators also stated that Underwood was not wearing a seatbelt when the crash occurred.
The collision prompted the North Carolina Department of Transportation to issue an alert warning drivers that both directions of NC-87 near Broadway Road were closed. Morning traffic was rerouted as law enforcement examined the wreckage.
By approximately 7 a.m., the highway was reopened after crews cleared debris and investigators gathered evidence. The early hour of the crash meant the road was not heavily traveled, but the consequences were profound.
Troopers are still working to determine exactly what led the Camry to cross the center line. For the military community and local residents alike, the tragedy leaves a deep mark. Three lives ended on a quiet North Carolina highway, and one more hangs in the balance as the investigation continues.
