With shattered hearts and overwhelming grief, the family and friends of Eric Anthony Pompa, 31, announce his sudden and tragic passing following a wrong‑way collision on Interstate 77 in Iredell County, North Carolina. A devoted father, son, brother, and friend, Eric’s life was cut short in the early hours of Friday, May 16, 2025, when the pickup truck he was driving collided head‑on with a tractor‑trailer near Mile Marker 42. Though he was wearing a seat belt, the violent impact ejected him from the vehicle; he succumbed to his injuries at the scene.

The North Carolina State Highway Patrol’s preliminary investigation cites impairment and wrong‑way travel as contributing factors in the crash. While the circumstances remain under review, those who loved Eric choose to remember the man beyond the headlines—a man defined not by a single, heartbreaking moment but by years of unwavering love for his children and steadfast loyalty to family and friends.

Remembering Eric’s Heart

Those closest to Eric describe him as the friend you called when your car made a strange noise—or when life did. He was quick with a joke, quicker with a helping hand, and generous to a fault. He loved country roads, barbecue smoked low and slow, and late‑night video‑game marathons with his brothers. His toolbox was never truly closed: if someone needed a wrench or a word of encouragement, Eric showed up.

“He was a protector,” his sister Brianna shares. “If you were in his circle, you felt safe. That’s just who he was—heart first, questions later.”

Facing Hard Realities with Compassion

Eric’s loved ones acknowledge the difficult details surrounding the crash. They also know addiction and impairment can coexist with genuine love and goodness. As they grapple with complicated grief, they hope Eric’s story sparks an honest conversation about mental‑health supports and substance‑abuse resources—because every life is worth saving before a tragedy occurs.