The driver of an 18-wheeler escaped injury when he he ran his truck off the road to avoid hitting another car.

Thomas Floyd Horner, 51, of West End, was traveling southeast on N.C. 211 when he swerved his vehicle off the road to avoid hitting a car in front of him that had slowed down for a funeral procession heading the opposite direction, according to the State Highway Patrol.

Horner's vehicle ran off the road and struck some trees, authorities said. The incident happened at 12:26 p.m. Dec. 2 and tied up traffic for several hours.

Horner, who was the lone occupant of his vehicle, was not cited. He was transported by ambulance to FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital, where we was treated and released.

In another accident last week, Robert Paul Burr, 20, of Los Angeles, escaped harm when he drove his pickup truck off the road and into the Little River.

State Highway Patrol troopers said Burr was driving west on McCaskill Road when he crossed the median and drove down an embankment and into the water. He was cited for failing to maintain his lane.

The accident occurred at 10:26 a.m. Thursday.

Authorities said his vehicle was going 45 mph -- 10 miles below the posted speed limit.

Contact Tom Embrey at (910) 693-2484 or by e-mail at tembrey@thepilot.com.