By Amanda Raymond

amanda.raymond@salisburypost.com

The N.C. Highway Patrol has released the name of the man who authorities say caused a crash near Landis on Monday.

According to Trooper K.G. Barringer, Ashley Damon Knecht was the driver of the sport utility vehicle that collided head-on with a tractor-trailer at the intersection of Cannon Farm and Mount Moriah Church roads.

Barringer said previously that Knecht was traveling east on N.C. 153 while the tractor-trailer was traveling west. Knecht passed a tow truck that was traveling ahead of him and hit the tractor-trailer.

Knecht was pinned in the car and the Atwell and Landis fire departments freed him using the Jaws-of-Life, Lt. Spencer Basinger said in an earlier report.

Basinger also said it took 30 minutes for the rescuers to free Knecht.

Knecht was taken to Carolinas Medical Center-NorthEast in Concord. Barringer said he was still in the intensive care unit on Wednesday.

Barringer said Knecht will be charged with driving with a revoked licensed, passing on a double yellow line, not wearing a seatbelt and having unsafe tires.

Contact reporter Amanda Raymond at 704-797-4222.