IREDELL COUNTY, N.C. July 19 2018 – An off-duty Iredell County deputy on a motorcycle was killed Wednesday afternoon when he was hit by an SUV driven by an on-duty deputy, officials said.

Authorities told Channel 9 that Deputy Justin Betts tried to turn into a parking lot off Taylorsville Highway, north of Statesville, around 1:40 p.m. when he crashed into Cpl. Bill Wood’s motorcycle.

Wood, who started working with Iredell County Emergency Communications in 1993 and transferred to the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office in 2007, died at the scene, officials said.

“Oh, I’m very sad about it. It could have been a member of my own family just as easily,” said Bill Connelly, who works nearby.

“I just happened to look out here and the place was covered with highway patrols, sheriff’s deputy trucks, firetrucks and ambulances,” Connelly said. “There was a lot going on.”

Officers said Betts called dispatch to report he was involved in the deadly crash. He has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of an investigation.

WSOCTV

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