George Kittle and Carol Kittle, both 66, struck and killed by truck while changing a tire on I-40 in Hickory, North Carolina

The N.C. Highway Patrol says an Alabama couple was killed as they changed a tire on Interstate 40. The patrol identified the victims as George and Carol Kittle, of Hollytree, Ala. Both were 66. The patrol said the couple was almost done changing the tire when a truck sideswiped their truck and struck them Tuesday morning, throwing them 100 feet. The accident occurred in the westbound lanes of I-40 at the Catawba County line. According to investigators, the victims were parked at the end of the ramp to I-40. They were off the roadway, on the shoulder, and both were wearing safety vests, according to investigators. Harvey Lee Stevens Jr. of Oakridge, Tenn., told the patrol he briefly saw someone in a vest and knew he had hit something. Stevens said after he got out of his truck and walked back, he saw one of the victims and called 911. Stevens is charged with two counts of misdemeanor death by vehicle.