N.C. Highway Patrol officials said a China Grove man who was struck and killed early this morning on N.C. 152, west of Happy Lake Road, was walking in the roadway when he was hit by a tractor-trailer.
Justin Green, 28, was traveling west on N.C. 152 and so was the tractor-trailer, driven by James Wilson, 47, of Rockwell. Wilson was driving for Trexler Trucking in Gold Hill.
Trooper A.J. Carpenter said the incident occurred at 4:48 a.m. and Wilson tried to swerve to avoid hitting Green, but was unable to avoid hitting him.
Wilson was driving the posted 55 mph speed limit. He was not charged in this incident.
Rowan County Rescue Squad, Rowan EMS and Bostian Heights Fire Department responded. Traffic had to be shut down until about 7:30 a.m. when emergency crews and responders were able to clear the wreck scene.