Woman dies in tractor-trailer crash on U.S. 1 in Youngsville

State troopers said that Sandra Hewitt had a red light and stopped at the intersection with Sunset Drive and Rolling Acres Road around 7:15 a.m., but then pulled out into the intersection while the light was still red. Her 2007 Toyota Avalon was struck by a tractor-trailer going west on the cross street. The impact of the crash caused the truck to tip over.

Bill Ammerman and John Conway were among the first people to happen upon the wreck. They tried to help Hewitt.

"There was no opportunity to try to move her out of the vehicle, because she was pinned in. I decided to try to give her CPR in place in the front seat," said Ammerman, who is the sales and marketing director for WRAL.com.

Hewitt was pronounced dead at the scene of the wreck. Ammerman said he did CPR until paramedics arrived, but wishes he could have done more to save her.

The tractor-trailer driver suffered minor injuries. Troopers said he will not be charged and that speed and alcohol were not factors in the wreck.

U.S. 1 was shut down in both directions for more than seven hours after the crash.