Man charged after child killed, another seriously injured in Harnett County tractor-trailer crash

A man has been charged after a child was killed and another was seriously injured in a tractor-trailer crash on Friday in Harnett County.

The North Carolina State Highway Patrol was called to reports of a three-car crash. Troopers said the crash happened after David Allen Cuellar, the tractor-trailer driver, did not slow down at a stoplight and ran into the back of a Hyundai Palisade SUV, causing them to hit a nearby Chevy Tahoe.

The driver of the Hyundai was taken to the hospital with serious injuries. An 8-year-old and a 9-year-old child were in the backseat of the car. Troopers said the 8-year-old died at the scene. The 9-year-old was also taken to the hospital with serious injuries.

The driver, passenger and infant in the Chevy were also taken to the hospital and are expected to be OK, troopers said.

Nearby surveillance video from Olivia Tobacco and More captured the moments a tractor-trailer rammed into the back of the car at a stoplight.

WRAL’s Sky 5 flew over the scene as crews investigated. Troopers said Cuellar has been arrested and is charged with misdemeanor death by motor vehicle. Authorities are holding him at the Harnett County Jail.