WINTERVILLE, N.C. (WITN) – A serious crash Wednesday afternoon closed down a part of a major highway and left one Eastern Carolina high school student dead.

The crash happened on Highway 11 in Winterville at the intersection of Beacon Drive near Fred’s Food Club yesterday afternoon.

Pitt County Schools Spokesman Tom McClellan says a J.H. Rose High School student was killed as a result of the crash.

McClellan says he is not ready to share the student’s name, but he did share with WITN that the school district’s crisis response team is currently at the school to assist students and staff members this morning.

It appears that a commercial box truck slammed into the back of a car that was heading south on Highway 11.

Interim Police Chief Chris Williams says three people were inside the car and taken to ECU Health Medical Center by an ambulance.

The truck is marked ‘Horizon Forest Products’ which is located in Raleigh.

According to Winterville police, the truck driver was checked and released on scene.

Williams says the crash investigation is active and ongoing.