Harmony – On Friday, June 6, at approximately 7:50 p.m., the NC State Highway Patrol responded to and investigated a fatal collision in Iredell County on I-77 South near mile marker 64. A 1999 Ford Ranger traveling south lost control, drove off the right side of the roadway, struck a guardrail, overturned, and went down an embankment.
The driver of the Ford, Elmer Adalberto Romero Giron, 38, of Statesville, succumbed to his injuries at the scene. An adult passenger and two juvenile passengers were transported to area hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries.
The initial investigation indicates speed and impairment were not contributing factors in the collision. However, the back right tire blew out, causing the driver to lose control. During the on-scene investigation, I-77 South was partially closed in the area for approximately two hours.