A 71-year-old Statesville man died in a crash Saturday morning when a box truck he was a passenger in lost control and collided with a tree, according to the N.C. State Highway Patrol. Troopers said the 1995 Ford box truck was traveling east on US 64 around 3:25 a.m. on November 6th when its driver ran off the road to the right, lost control and crashed into a tree near Page Farm Road. The driver of the Koala T Katering Inc.-owned truck, 58-year-old Michael Ervin, was injured. The front-seat passenger, 71-year-old Charles Chambers, died from his injuries at the scene. Chambers was not restrained by a seatbelt, authorities said. Highway Patrol said the initial investigation does not indicate excessive speed or impairment contributed to the crash.
