Craven Co., NC (July 2, 2026) – A woman died on Wednesday morning, July 1, after a head-on crash involving a car and a dump truck on North Carolina Highway 55 in Craven County.
The crash happened around 11:24 a.m. on North Carolina Highway 55 near Dover Road. North Carolina State Highway Patrol said the vehicles involved were a 2018 Chevrolet Cruze and a 2006 Peterbilt dump truck.
The Chevrolet driver was identified as 30-year-old Daejahnae Natalya Smith of Cove City. Troopers said the Chevrolet and the eastbound dump truck collided head-on, and both vehicles came to rest off the roadway.
Smith was pronounced dead at the site by the Craven County medical examiner. The dump truck driver, 56-year-old Tracy Bishop Simpson of Maysville, was evaluated there.
Further details about road closures or additional injuries were not included in the initial report. The cause of the collision is still under investigation.
Our condolences go to Smith’s family and loved ones, and we wish those injured a swift and full recovery.
Dump Truck Collisions Bring Serious Risks on Two-Lane Roads
Dump truck collisions can be severe because these vehicles are much larger and heavier than passenger cars. In a head-on crash, the force can cause major damage and leave people in smaller vehicles with life-threatening injuries.
Two-lane roads can add more danger when vehicles travel in opposite directions with little space between them. A sudden lane shift, limited shoulder, curve, or traffic change may leave little time for drivers to react.
Large trucks also need more room to slow or stop safely. After a serious dump truck accident, investigators frequently review travel direction, lane position, road surface, vehicle damage, and where both vehicles came to rest.
