Man killed in wrong-way crash on I-85 in Gastonia

GASTON COUNTY, N.C. — One person was killed after a wrong-way crash on Interstate 85 in Gastonia early Friday morning.

The Lowell Fire Department says the crash happened just before 1:30 a.m. on northbound I-85 near the Belmont Abbey exit. Police said a Hyundai Elantra was traveling in the wrong direction when it crashed into a Mercedes Sprinter van.

First responders found one of the victims trapped inside the Elantra, and they weren’t breathing. The victim was taken to the hospital but died from their injuries. The driver in the Sprinter van was taken to the hospital.

The victim was identified as 23-year-old Jorge Narino of Charlotte.

It’s not clear what led to the crash or why one of the drivers was going the wrong way. The Belmont Police Department says they’re investigating what happened.

I-85 was blocked for several hours but has since reopened.

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