Articles Posted in Wrongful Death

Duplin County, NC (February 22, 2021) – Troopers with the North Carolina State Highway Patrol have identified the two victims of a fatal accident that took place in Duplin County on Saturday. The crash occurred just after 10:00 a.m. on North Carolina Highway 11/903 near Kenansville.

According to a report from First Sergeant David Hawkins of the Highway Patrol, 75-year-old Charlotte Gross was traveling northbound in a U-Haul when she went off the road to the right. The U-Haul struck a guardrail before coming back onto the roadway, traveling left of center and colliding with a Chevy Equinox driven by 62-year-old Emiliano Yanez. Both Yanez and his passenger, 45-year-old Manuel Gonzalez, died at the accident scene. Gross was taken to Vidant Duplin Hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.

Following an investigation, Gross was charged with two counts of misdemeanor death by motor vehicle in connection with the accident.

Salisbury, NC (January 31, 2021) – Two people were killed following a head-on crash that took place in Salisbury on Friday, January 29th. The accident happened in the 100 block of Jake Alexander Boulevard near the intersection with South Main Street.

The Salisbury Police Department responded to the crash scene just after 11:00 p.m. According to officials, 47-year-old Tomeca Wayette Jackson, of Salisbury, was operating a vehicle on Jake Alexander Boulevard when she crossed the median and veered into oncoming traffic. Jackson’s vehicle collided head-on with a vehicle traveling in the opposite direction. Both Jackson and the other driver were killed in the crash. The identity of the other driver is not available at this time.

Police are still investigating the crash in an effort to determine what caused Jackson to cross the median. There is no further information available at this time.

Zebulon, NC (December 26, 2020) – At least one person was killed in a Christmas Day crash that took place in Johnston County. The accident was reported at approximately 8:25 p.m. on North Carolina Highway 96 near Davis Road, according to the North Carolina Department of Transportation.

Troopers with the North Carolina State Highway Patrol responded to the crash scene. Officials say that multiple vehicles were involved in the accident, although there is no information on the cause of the crash at this time. EMS and fire crews were at the scene to assist the injured victims. The identity of the deceased individual is not available. Officials set up a detour around the scene as the road was closed in both directions for several hours before reopening around 11:30 p.m.

There is no additional information available at this time. An investigation into the crash is ongoing.

Wayne County, NC (December 22, 2020) – One person was killed in a two-car crash that took place on Monday, December 21^st in Wane County, near Mount Olive. The crash occurred on North Carolina Highway 55, close to Kelly Springs Road.

The North Carolina State Highway Patrol responded to the crash scene. According to a report, troopers say that a white pickup truck was traveling on N.C. 55 when the driver attempted to pass another car. As the pickup passed, it collided with the car that it was trying to pass. The crash caused the car to flip over several times before coming to rest. The female driver of the car suffered critical injuries and was taken to a local hospital where she was pronounced dead. The driver of the pickup was not hurt. There were no other vehicles involved in the accident. Neither driver has been identified at this time.

The Highway Patrol is still investigating the accident. Charges are pending against the driver of the pickup truck at this time.

Dobson, NC (December 6, 2020) – Two people were killed following a head-on crash in Dobson on Wednesday, December 2nd. The crash took place around 7:00 p.m. on U.S. Highway 601 near the Yadkin River.

According to Surry County emergency workers, an SUV and a four-door sedan collided head-on with one another. The driver of the SUV, 54-year-old Kimberly McHone Beasley was killed, along with the sedan driver, 42-year-old Jeffrey Allen Adkins. According to the Highway Patrol, it is believed that Adkins traveled left of center before colliding head-on with the vehicle driven by Beasley. Multiple rescue crews responded to the crash scene, including the Dobson and Mount Airy rescue squads as well as the Dobson and Surry Central Fire Departments.

An investigation into the accident is ongoing at this time. There is no additional information available.

Burlington, NC (November 25, 2020) – The victim of a fatal car accident in Burlington has now been identified by police. The crash took place on Saturday, November 21^st along Interstate 85 near the exit for Mount Hope Church Road.

According to authorities, 21-year-old Mickey Jason Ruiz-Vivar of Burlington was driving northbound on I-85 when he lost control of his vehicle and ran off the road to the right side. Ruiz-Vivar’s car struck a guardrail before spinning into another vehicle driven by 57-year-old William Rosando of Whitsett. Ruiz-Vivar was thrown from his vehicle and was then hit by a tractor-trailer. He died at the crash scene. Rosando was taken to the hospital to be treated for minor injuries. No one else was hurt in the accident.

Following an investigation, police charged Ryan Donlon in connection with the crash. At this time, it is not clear was role Donlon played in the accident.

Greenville, NC (November 15, 2020) – Police in Greenville have identified the victim of a hit-and-run bicycle crash that took place on Friday, November 13th. The crash happened around 7:30 p.m. on South Memorial Drive near Greenville Boulevard and Mall Drive.

According to officers, 27-year-old Kari Williams, of Winterville, was riding her bike in front of the Academy Sports and Hobby Lobby buildings when she was hit by a vehicle. The vehicle then fled the crash scene before officers could arrive. Williams suffered critical injuries and was later pronounced dead by officials.

Police are still searching for the vehicle that struck Williams. The car has been described as a white or tan four-door passenger vehicle with front end and windshield damage. Anyone with information should contact Officer A Vaughan of the GPD Traffic Safety Unit at 252-329-3438 or call the GPD non-emergency line at 252-329-4300.

Statesville, NC (November 12, 2020) – Troopers with the North Carolina State Highway Patrol responded to the scene of a fatal crash in Statesville on Thursday. The collision was reported around 5:45 a.m. on Wilkesboro Highway near Pisgah Church Road.

According to reports, the crash involved a 2018 Jeep Wrangler and 1997 Ford Ranger. Troopers report that the Ford was traveling southbound when it hydroplaned and crossed over the centerline, striking the Ranger head-on. The driver of the Ford, 23-year-old Dylan Pool, and a passenger, 23-year-old Jamie Batcher, were killed in the collision. The Jeep driver, 33-year-old Ryan Bourgeois, was taken to Iredell Memorial Hospital for treatment of serious injuries. Bourgeois was later taken to Wake Forest Baptist Health for additional treatment.

Neither Poole nor Batcher were wearing their seatbelts at the time of the accident. Investigators believe that speed played a role in the crash.

Greensboro, NC (November 5, 2020) – Two people were killed and two others were hospitalized after a car accident in Greensboro on Wednesday. The crash occurred just before 2:30 p.m. on East Wendover Avenue near the intersection with Yanceyville Street.

The Greensboro Police Department was called to the crash scene just after the accident took place. According to officers, a 2016 Hyundai Sonata was traveling eastbound on Wendover. At the same time, a 2017 Nissan Altima was traveling westbound.  The Nissan left its lane of travel and crossed over the centerline, striking the Hyundai head-on. The driver and passenger of the Hyundai died at the crash scene. The victims have been identified as 43-year-old April Michelle Tate and 65-year-old Lucy Jean Krites, both of Reidsville. Another occupant of the Hyundai and the Nissan Driver, Kristin Killian Lopez, were both taken to the hospital with serious injuries.

Following an investigation, police charged Lopez with two counts of felony death by vehicle, serious injury by vehicle, driving while impaired, careless and reckless driving, and possession of marijuana. Lopez was taken to the Guilford County Jail, where she was being held under a $150,000 bond.

Durham, NC (November 1, 2020) – A 21-year-old dirt bike driver is dead following a head-on crash in Durham on Saturday. The accident happened around 7:00 p.m. at the intersection of E. Club Blvd. and Cascadilla Street.

Officers with the Durham Police Department received a call regarding the crash and arrived at the scene just after it occurred. According to officials, 21-year-old Jarrein Smith was riding his dirt bike near the intersection when he was struck by a pickup truck that was attempting to make a left turn near the intersection. Investigators believe that the truck turned into Smith’s path, causing the collision.

Smith was rushed to a nearby hospital where he later succumbed to his injuries. The driver of the pickup was not injured and has not been identified by police at this time.