PINE LEVEL, NC (Rocktown Now) — Former James Madison University football player Luke Warner died in a car crash in North Carolina Thursday morning.

A local news station, The Johnston County Report, cited a preliminary investigation indicating that a North Carolina Department of Transportation truck was stopped in the westbound lanes of U.S. 70 with its emergency equipment activated while workers removed a deer carcass from the roadway.

Authorities said traffic behind the NCDOT vehicle was slowing when a blue 2026 Toyota RAV4 collided with the rear of a beige 2013 Nissan Versa. The force of the crash pushed the Nissan into the back of the NCDOT truck.

The driver of the Nissan was identified as former JMU football player 26-year-old Lucas Charles Warner and was pronounced dead at the scene.

The drivers of both the Toyota RAV4 and the NCDOT truck sustained minor injuries and were transported to UNC Health Johnston for treatment. Authorities charged the driver of the Toyota RAV4 with failure to reduce speed and misdemeanor death by vehicle.

Warner played for James Madison University in 2018 and 2019 as a freshman and redshirt freshman as a defensive lineman.

JMU officials released the following statement:

“We are deeply saddened to hear about the loss of former Duke Luke Warner. Our heartfelt thoughts and prayers are with his friends, family, and members of our program.”