20 Jul2 dead, 4 injured after truck hits motorcycles along Interstate 85 in Guilford County


UPDATED 4:06 PM EDT Jul 19, 2015

GUILFORD COUNTY, N.C. —The driver of a tractor-trailer that hit six motorcycles stopped along Interstate 85 Friday morning, killing two motorcyclists and injuring four others, has been charged.

Daniel Santiago Serna, 34, of Plantation, Fla., was charged with felony hit and run and misdemeanor death by vehicle following the crash around 6:20 a.m. on the southbound side near Business 85 and Interstate 73. He was held under a $100,000 secured bond in the Guilford County Jail pending a first court appearance scheduled for Monday.

Arnie M. Morris, 37, of Woodbridge, Va., died at the scene, and Kenneth N. Jefferson, 51, of Chesterfield, Va., died at Moses Cone Hospital Sunday morning.

Another motorcyclist was listed in stable condition as of Saturday, while the other three motorcyclists were released from Moses Cone.

The tractor-trailer went off the road and hit all six motorcycles that were stopped on the shoulder, troopers said. Five of the motorcyclists were standing along the road at the time of the crash, while the sixth was sitting on her bike, troopers said.

The truck stopped near Groometown Road about a mile south of the crash scene, troopers said. Troopers believe the truck only stopped due to having a flat tire and say the driver may have been asleep at the wheel.

Two people were in the tractor-trailer, which belongs to EP Trucking out of Miami. Both truck occupants weren’t injured, and neither were impaired by drugs or alcohol, troopers said.

The motorcyclists were heading from the Northern Virginia/Southern Maryland area to a bikers rally in Atlanta, troopers said.

The crash investigation continues. Multiple southbound lanes were closed for several hours Friday.

Link to article: http://www.wxii12.com/news/tractortrailer-motorcycles-involved-in-i85-accident/34215010