By John Peters
Editor

Police believe they have identified the body of a man burned beyond recognition in a fiery crash over the weekend, but as of Tuesday evening they were not releasing his identity.
The man was killed when the 1991 Plymouth he was driving was struck in the passenger side by a tractor-trailer on U.S. Highway 158 near the intersection with N.C. Highway 903 at Information Grocery.
The crash occurred around 10:40 p.m., and both vehicles burst into flames when they collided.
North Carolina Highway Patrol Sgt. R.T. Futrell said Tuesday a preliminary identification had been made on the victim, but he said a final determination had not yet been made.
He said he expected the identity to be finalized by Wednesday, April 25.
According to some published reports, Trooper B.E. Pulliam said the victim was on the shoulder of U.S. 158 facing west when he made a U-turn and was struck by an 18-wheeler driven by a Warrenton man.
Futrell said Tuesday the driver of the truck was not injured seriously, though his vehicle received extensive damage. He said the accident report by Pulliam put the damage at $20,000.
Futrell said the tractor-trailer was estimated to have been driving at 55 mph at the time of the wreck, which is the posted speed limit for that stretch of highway. He added that no charges have been filed.
Again, according to published reports quoting Pulliam, the truck drivers applied his brakes, leaving nearly 130 feet of skid marks before striking the car and dragging it an additional 220 feet.
Because of extensive damage to the vehicle, it was difficult to even tell the color of the car, and the driver was burned to the point that Pulliam said the medical examiner would have to use surgical implants in the man as a means of tracking down his identity.