7 killed in 3-vehicle North Carolina crash, troopers say

ROBESON COUNTY, N.C. (WBTW) — Seven people were killed Thursday evening in a three-vehicle crash in Robeson County, according to the North Carolina State Highway Patrol.

Troopers responded at about 6 p.m. to Highway 711 in the Pembroke area. All seven victims were in one vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene.

According to troopers, the driver and five passengers have yet to be identified. Another passenger has been identified but their name is being withheld until relatives are notified.

The highway patrol said two vehicles were traveling west on Highway 711 when one of them went left of center to pass the other one and sideswiped it. The vehicle attempting the pass then hit the third vehicle.

The vehicle attempting the pass then caught fire after coming to a stop at the edge of a swamp, troopers said. Three people, among the seven killed, were thrown from the vehicle.

The driver of the third vehicle, a Pembroke man, suffered injuries that were not believed to be life-threatening, according to troopers. He was taken by Robeson County EMS to UNC Health Southeastern.

The vehicle that was sideswiped left the scene, and the driver has not been identified, troopers said, indicating that the vehicle did not contribute to the cause of the crash.

The crash remains under investigation.

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