Gaston County, NC (October 26, 2026) - A tractor-trailer driver died and another person was transported with serious injuries after two tractor-trailers crashed early Monday morning on I-85 North near Lowell in Gaston County, North Carolina. Gaston EMS confirmed the death and serious injuries.

The North Carolina State Highway Patrol said the trucks struck each other and one hit the concrete median. Responding firefighters found both tractor-trailers heavily damaged, with one engulfed in flames.

Ranlo Fire & Rescue assisted the Lowell Fire Department. Firefighters from multiple departments brought the fire under control by about 3 a.m. According to Ranlo Fire, the man who died was driving the truck that caught fire. Rescue crews removed him from the vehicle after an investigation at the scene.

Gaston County paramedics reported that the other person was taken to a hospital and was expected to survive at the time of the initial account.

All northbound lanes were closed for several hours. NCDOT reported traffic backups through Gastonia and McAdenville, and Gastonia Police described congestion on nearby roads, bridges and exits. A boom truck helped remove the wreckage. The northbound lanes reopened around 9 a.m., with some law-enforcement vehicles remaining near the ramps.

A witness traveling behind the trucks captured the crash on a dashcam and narrowly escaped. Officials said the recording’s displayed date and time were inaccurate because the camera’s internal settings had not been updated.

The cause of the collision was under investigation when the incident was reported.

Using Dashcam Footage With an Incorrect Timestamp

The recording of this I-85 collision illustrates a problem that can arise when a camera’s clock is wrong. The image may still show vehicle movements clearly even though the displayed date or time is inaccurate. Keeping the original recording allows its contents to be compared with other information about when and where the crash occurred.

For someone who captured a collision, preserve the original file and note how the camera’s clock was set. Avoid replacing the original with a cropped clip or an edited version that changes the timestamp. The footage before and after the impact may help explain a sequence that a short social-media clip leaves out.

A truck accident law firm reviewing a potential claim can compare the recording with dispatch times, road landmarks and other available evidence. An incorrect clock should be explained rather than silently corrected or treated as proof that the recording shows a different incident.

Preserving Evidence After a Serious Truck Crash

Following a fatal or serious truck collision, families may receive video clips without knowing who recorded them or whether they are complete. Keeping the sender’s contact information and the original files can help answer those questions. Rosensteel Fleishman can discuss how available evidence may bear on a possible claim.