Man dies in hit-and-run crash on I-40 in Benson, car drove away from scene, says SHP :: WRAL.com

A Raleigh man died in a pedestrian hit-and-run crash on Interstate 40 in Johnston County Friday morning, the State Highway Patrol confirms.

The State Highway Patrol said Ryan Shyllon Opher died after the crash around 7:10 a.m. Friday on I-40 East near Exit 325 to Woodall Dairy Road near Benson.

Authorities pronounced Opher dead at the scene. He was 38.

An initial investigation revealed that a car was traveling eastbound on I-40 when it veered off the roadway to the left, entered the grass median and struck a pedestrian in the median. The State Highway Patrol said the car then drove away from the scene.

Before 8 a.m. Friday, the left lane was closed on I-40 West near Exit 325 to Woodall Dairy Road near Benson.

Sky 5 flew overhead at 8:15 a.m. where what appeared to be a body covered in a white sheet was visible in the median strip.

Several police vehicles and an ambulance were parked along the road.

The incident caused a delay of at least a mile for onlookers at 8:30 a.m. as the body was being loaded onto a stretcher.

The road was reopened at 8:45 a.m. and traffic was able to move unhindered.

Anyone with information about the case is asked to call 919-934-2186.

The investigation is ongoing.