Mason James Wisdom Killed in Thomasville Truck Accident
The driver faces pending charges after tractor-trailer blocked both lanes of US 64
Mason James Wisdom, 19, of Thomasville, was killed in a two-vehicle accident on US 64 near Roger Jennings Lane in Thomasville on Sunday, according to the North Carolina State Highway Patrol.
A 58-year-old man faces pending charges in connection with the fatal collision. Investigators determined the eastbound Volvo tractor-trailer was attempting to back into a private driveway, blocking both travel lanes, when a westbound Subaru Legacy SUV struck the side of the trailer.
Wisdom, who was driving the Subaru, was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the tractor-trailer was not injured.
Troopers confirmed that alcohol was not a factor in the wreck. The investigation remains ongoing as authorities finalize the pending charges against the truck driver.
No other vehicles were involved.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 5,472 people died in large-truck crashes nationwide in 2023.
Why was the tractor-trailer blocking both lanes on US 64?
As troopers finalize charges against the commercial driver, investigators will examine the specific maneuvers that led the tractor-trailer to obstruct the highway. In truck accidents such as this, crash reconstructionists evaluate hours-of-service logs, driver training records, and the safety protocols for backing a 53-foot trailer across active travel lanes at night.
Candice Bond, managing partner at Bond Legal, said, "A tractor-trailer blocking active highway lanes at night is nearly invisible to approaching drivers until reaction time has already run out. At that point, the physics are unforgiving."
"An attorney handling a fatal nighttime obstruction crash will act quickly to secure dash-camera footage and electronic data before a carrier gains control of what gets preserved," added Bond, who is also a national legal analyst for Accident News.
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration regulations strictly govern how and when commercial vehicles can perform backing maneuvers on public roadways, especially in low-light conditions.
What rights do families have when a commercial driver faces charges?
The sudden loss of a young family member leaves relatives facing immediate emotional and financial burdens, often while navigating the criminal justice system alongside a parallel civil investigation. While police handle the criminal charges against the driver, commercial trucking companies immediately deploy defense teams to mitigate their corporate liability.
North Carolina wrongful death statute
Under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 28A-18-2, surviving family members may file a wrongful death action. North Carolina applies contributory negligence. The statute of limitations is 2 years.
Recoverable damages may include loss of financial support, loss of services and companionship, funeral expenses, and the estate's losses.
According to Stefano Formica, a national legal analyst for Accident News and of counsel at Bond Legal, "An attorney representing surviving relatives will examine carrier liability and insurance coverage to pursue the full financial compensation an affected family may rightfully be owed after a devastating fatal crash."