Pedestrian killed on I-85


On Friday, October 24, at 9:50 p.m., Henderson Police Department officers responded to a call on Interstate 85, north of the NC 39 bridge, to investigate a collision between a vehicle and pedestrian.

Upon arriving at the scene, officers found a badly injured local man in the median of the interstate.

William Thomas Smith, age 47, of 1033 Maple Street, Henderson, had suffered massive traumatic injuries and was unresponsive. An ambulance responded to the scene, but Smith did not survive his injuries.

The investigation tends to indicate that Smith was attempting to cross the two northbound lanes of the interstate with a relative when a car that was traveling north on 1-85 struck him. The collision took place in the inside lane in an unlit area north of the NC-39 bridge crossover. Both the victim and his companion were wearing dark clothing.

No charges are anticipated against the driver of the car. Northbound traffic on I-85 was stopped for one hour while officers investigated at the scene.