SIMS, N.C. (WNCN) -- Separate vehicle crashes during heavy rain late Sunday afternoon and early Sunday evening in Wilson and Nash counties were both deadly, officials said.
The first wreck happened just before 6 p.m. along Interstate 95 in Wilson County during "heavy rain" at mile marker 117.5, according to North Carolina State Highway Patrol Trooper J.K. Page.
A southbound car hydroplaned on the wet road, went off the highway to the left, and hit a large tree, Page said.
The driver of the car, Jimmy Martin, 41, of Linden in Cumberland County, died in the wreck while his wife and 15-year-old daughter suffered minor injuries, Page said.
The crash of the 2024 Lexus sedan happened because of exceeding safe conditions during the heavy rain, as well as the speed limit, Page said. No other vehicles were involved.
The three people in the car were all wearing seatbelts at the time. No impairment is suspected in the wreck, Page said.
About 40 minutes later -- also during heavy rain -- a single-vehicle crash in Nash County left a man dead, according to the North Carolina State Highway Patrol.
The crash was reported at 6:38 p.m. along U.S. 264 eastbound near mile marker 14, which is near the exit for Sims, the highway patrol said.
A 53-year-old man from Bailey was driving alone in a Chevrolet Colorado pickup truck when the vehicle hydroplaned during rain, according to Trooper J.M. Leonard.
The truck went off the right side of the highway and hit several trees, Leonard said. The man who was driving the truck died.
The significant factor in the crash was exceeding safe speed during the torrential rain, according to Leonard. Impairment is not suspected.
The name of the man who died will be released after his next of kin is notified.