Band of Oz member dies after van crashes into tanker truck on I-95 in North Carolina, reports say

ERWIN, N.C. (WNCN) — The North Carolina State Highway Patrol said a man died after crashing into a fuel tanker truck early Saturday morning in Harnett County. An alert from the North Carolina Department of Transportation notified drivers around 2:20 a.m. of a crash on Interstate 95 north near mile marker 70 near Pope Road. The North Carolina State Highway Patrol said the wreck happened when a 2019 Chrysler Pacifica driven by a Concord man was heading north on I-95. "The vehicle failed to reduce speed and collided with the rear of a 2025 Peterbilt tanker truck that was traveling north on I-95 and (had) slowed due to traffic ahead," troopers said in a statement to CBS 17. Howard Douglas Winstead Jr., 67, of Concord died in the wreck, troopers said. A 35-year-old man from Angier was driving the tanker truck, officials said. An update from NCDOT notified drivers just after 5:45 a.m. that the highway reopened. Winstead was a member of the popular beach music band, Band of Oz, according to the Carolina Beach Music Awards. Known for performing along the coast of the Carolinas, the band had Winstead on the horns and vocals. The multi-instrument player and songwriter won awards for his contributions to music, with one organization sharing condolences to the family about his loss. "My heart is broken! I can't believe this," the Carolina Beach Music Awards posted on Facebook. "Thoughts and Prayers go out to the Family and Friends of Doug Winstead of the Band of Oz." Before Winstead's passing, Band of Oz was scheduled to perform at the Halifax Day 250th Celebration. According to the Town of Halifax on social media in a heartfelt post, the show will still go on. "We just wanted to let everyone know that our [event] is still on for [Sunday] & we are unbelievably grateful to the Band of Oz for their dedication, especially during this extremely difficult time." The highway patrol said the investigation into the wreck is still underway.