Band of Oz member dies in crash on I-95: Reports

ERWIN, N.C. (WNCN) — The North Carolina State Highway Patrol is investigating what led to a crash 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. Troopers at the scene told CBS 17 that a white minivan struck the back of a heavy-duty truck carrying fuel. Troopers said this resulted in one person dying from their injuries. An update from NCDOT notified drivers around 6 a.m. that the highway reopened. According to a spokesperson from NCSHP, the person driving the Pacifica, the white minivan, has been identified as 67-year-old Howard Douglas Winstead, of Concord. The spokesperson said, according to the preliminary investigation, Winstead failed to reduce speed and collided into the back of a 2025 Peterbilt tanker truck that slowed down due to traffic ahead. "After impact, both vehicles came to rest in the roadway," a spokesperson for NCSHP said. "Mr. Winstead died at the scene." Winstead was reportedly a member of popular beach music band, Band of Oz. 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 contribution to music, one of which expressed their 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." NCSHP is continuing to investigate the circumstances around the crash.