Brent Adams & Associates Legal Blog

3-Year-Old Injured By Blown Tire From Passing Tractor-Trailer Dies

A 3-year-old boy who suffered personal injuries from being struck by a blown tire from a passing tractor-trailer on September 1 died of those injuries the following day.

According to a North Carolina Highway Patrol spokeswoman, 3-year-old Dillion Perez-Andrades had been at UNC Hospitals in Chapel Hill since the accident took place shortly after 7 p.m. on September 1.

Investigating Trooper D.E. Raynor said that Perez-Andrades had been playing with a group of other children approximately 30 feet from the highway when the tire blew on a passing tractor-trailer. The tire came off the rim, rolled into the yard, and struck the boy.

Raynor said the truck’s driver, Alcolou, South Carolina resident Phillip Oliver, heard and felt the tire blow and stopped to examine it.

Motorcyclist Killed In Collision With Deer In Statesville

A man from Taylorsville has died of the personal injuries he suffered when his motorcycle collided with a deer on Linney’s Mill Road in Statesville early on the morning of August 30.

The driver, 38-year-old Robert Andrew Pruitt, was transported to Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem, where he was later pronounced dead.

According to Trooper M.B. Childres of the North Carolina Highway Patrol, Pruitt was riding a 1991 Harley-Davidson motorcycle at around 3 a.m. when the motorcycle struck a deer in the road, ejecting him.

Childres said that it doesn’t appear that Pruitt had been traveling at an excessive speed, but he was not wearing a helmet approved by the Department of Transportation. He sustained massive head injuries in the accident.

Man Looking For "Ghost Train" Killed By Real Train In Iredell County

Early on the morning of August 27, a man who was with a group of about 12 people looking for a legendary “ghost train” in Iredell County suffered fatal personal injuries when he was struck by a real train.

The incident took place on a train trestle near Buffalo Shoals Road around 2:45 a.m.

The train was rounding a curve on Bostian’s Bridge over Third Creek nearly two miles west of Statesville.

Iredell County Sheriff Phillip Redmond said that 29-year-old Christopher Kaiser was pronounced dead at the scene and two others were injured. Kaiser’s body was located down a steep incline below the trestle.

The two injured persons received air transport to a local hospital. Their condition was not immediately made available.

Sheriff’s officials say witnesses said they were at the scene hoping to see a “ghost train” and believed the real train to be that train.

The sheriff said the incident took place on the anniversary of a train wreck that took place at the same location on August 27, 1891. Since that fatal crash, a legend came about of a ghost train playing out the deadly scene on each anniversary.

At Least One Dead, Two Injured In Fiery Crash Near N.C.-S.C. State Line

At least one person suffered fatal personal injuries in an accident on Interstate 77 on August 16 near the state line for North and South Carolina in which a fuel tanker crashed and caught fire, also resulting in the interstate being shut down for several hours.

According to North Carolina Highway Patrol Lance Corporal Billy Elder, the driver of the tractor trailer in question was killed and two women in a car that collided with the truck received transport to a local hospital to undergo treatment. None of the people involved’s identities were immediately made available.

Despite the truck traveling in the southbound lanes, both sides of the ride were closed. The northbound lanes were reopened after the fire was extinguished and southbound lanes were reopened later that night.

Two Injured In Eastover Plane Crash

Two people who suffered personal injuries in the crash of a single-engine airplane that crashed in Eastover on August 15 remained at Cape Fear Valley Medical Center and were listed in fair condition as of the morning of August 17.

According to a hospital spokesperson, one of the passengers in the Beech aircraft, Randy Nunnery, remained in intensive care.

On the morning of the accident, the plane, piloted by Bud Symond, crashed after taking off at Eastover Air Ranch.

The president of the Eastover Air Ranch Homeowners Association, Jerry Byrd, said that he was told that the nose wheel of the plane collapsed shortly before the plane took off, resulting in the propeller bouncing repeatedly on the ground.

Byrd, also a pilot, said that Symond probably prevented the crash from being worse than it was by veering, rather than continuing down the runway. He said that had Symond attempted to continue forward, he most likely would have struck the tall trees just past the runway. Instead, Symond was able to get the plane airborne between houses with the intent of landing on Wilbur Street in the neighborhood, which has a grass runway.

Among the homeowners living in the gated community off Baywood Road in Eastover, approximately nine are pilots.

The crash remains under the investigation of the Federal Aviation Administration.

.Man Dies In Accident

Man Dies In Accident

North Carolina Motorcyclist Killed On Blue Ridge Parkway

Vehicle Crashes Into Lillington Building, Injuring Five

Lillington police said that a driver who may have fallen asleep at the wheel and four others suffered personal injuries when his vehicle crashed into a building at the corner of South Main and East Killiegrey streets on August 8.

The identities of the five injured people have not yet been made available, according to Lillington Police Chief Frank Powers. He said the crash took place around 4 a.m.

The five were traveling in an extended cab pickup and collided with the left front corner of the building. Several businesses are housed within the building, including Pioneer Flooring, Powers said.

Powers said that preliminary indications are that the driver fell asleep behind the wheel and not much else is known as of yet.

Powers said the five occupants of the truck received treatment for injuries not considered to be life-threatening.

Tanker Truck Overturns On I-440

Raleigh police say a tanker truck overturned on the morning of August 9 near westbound Interstate 440 and U.S. 64 east, causing the driver to suffer personal injuries and the exit ramp to U.S. 264 to be closed.

The tanker was transporting 48,000 pounds of a material used in waste-water treatment plants and had to be emptied before the vehicle could be turned upright and towed from the ramp, said Raleigh fire battalion chief Ronny Mizell. He noted that the material was contained and posed no hazard.

According to the authorities, the driver, who was identified as Timothy Abernathy, received transport to WakeMed in Raleigh, where he was listed in good condition.

Abernathy was en route to the Perdue Farms in Lewiston Woodville when the accident took place at around 5 a.m., according to Mizell.

Fatigue Believed To Be Cause Of Sanford Crash That Leaves One Dead, Four Injured

North Carolina state troopers cite fatigue as the likely cause of a two-vehicle accident in Sanford on August 7 in which an 18-year-old man was killed and a family of four required hospital transport for the personal injuries they suffered.

According to troopers, a Chevrolet Blazer driven by 18-year-old Cameron resident Sebastian Talley crossed the center line on N.C. Highway 87 at Winstead Road at about 9 p.m. and collided with an oncoming Ford F250 pickup truck. Talley was pronounced dead at the scene.

The driver of the pickup and two passengers received air transport to UNC Hospitals in Chapel Hill. They were identified as 40-year-old Wayne Fausz, 15-year-old Nathaniel Fausz, and 9-year-old Autumn Fausz.

Wayne and Nathaniel Fausz were in critical condition as of August 8. Troopers say their injuries were serious but were not considered to be life-threatening. Autumn Fausz sustained multiple broken bones and has since been listed in good condition.

A third passenger, 34-year-old Natasha Fausz, received transport to Central Carolina Hospital in Sanford. Her condition was not immediately made available.

Driver Cited For DWI After Pedestrian Fatally Struck In Fayetteville

The Fayetteville Police Department says a man suffered fatal personal injuries on the morning of August 8 when he was struck by a car while attempting to cross Bragg Boulevard.

Police say the investigation revealed that the man, who was not immediately identified, was struck by a 2007 Dodge driven by Fayetteville resident Jason Phillips, killing the man.

Police have charged Phillips with driving while intoxicated and driving on a revoked license.

Police said the accident took place shortly after 2:30 a.m. near the intersection of Bragg Boulevard and Blue Street.

Two Injured In Collision Between Motorcycle And Car In Sanford

Police say two people suffered personal injuries in a vehicular accident involving a motorcycle and a car in Sanford on the night of August 6.

The accident took place shortly after 9 p.m. at the intersection of South Horner Boulevard and East Seawell Street.

The two occupants of the motorcycle were both injured in the accident. A male received air transport to UNC Hospitals in Chapel Hill and a female received air transport to WakeMed Hospital in Raleigh. Their names and conditions were not immediately made available.

It is not known if anyone in the car was injured in the accident.

6-Year-Old Dies When Mother's Vehicle Overturns In Orange County

A 6-year-old girl suffered fatal personal injuries in a single-vehicle accident around 8:45 a.m. on August 6 when the 1994 Chevrolet Suburban her mother was driving overturned on Orange Grove Road near Dimmocks Mill Road in Orange County.

 Scottlyn Smith was seated in the rear-left passenger seat at the time of the accident. The roof on the side she was sitting on collapsed upon impact.

The girl’s mother, 35-year-old Efland resident Cherylann Smith, was driving north toward Hillsborough. All five of her children were passengers in the vehicle, with ages ranging from 2 to 9-years-old, according to North Carolina State Trooper G.S. Mitchell. All passengers were wearing seat belts or in child safety seats.

Mitchell said that Smith briefly looked down when the vehicle ran off the road to the right and she overcorrected. The vehicle then crossed the center line and overturned. He said that speed was not a factor.

Scottlyn Smith died and the others suffered “very minor” injuries, according to Mitchell. They all received transport to Duke University Hospital.

The crash remains under investigation.

Motorcyclist Dead After Being Struck By Car In Wake County

According to the North Carolina Highway Patrol, a motorcyclist suffered fatal personal injuries in an accident with a car near Falls Lake in Wake County on the night of August 6.

The accident occurred on Old Weaver Trail. Troopers say the car made a left turn into the motorcycle’s path.

The motorcycle’s driver, 62-year-old Wake Forest resident Randy Lewis, was ejected.

The car’s driver, Creedmoor resident Brenda Gurley, received transport to Durham Regional Hospital with injuries that were not considered to be life-threatening.

Two Dead After Plane Crashes Into Residence

On August 7, a twin-engine plane crashed into a western Pennsylvania house shortly after taking off, causing two people to suffer fatal personal injuries and narrowly missing a man sleeping on his couch with his dog. The accident also set the home on fire.

According to Westmoreland County, Pa. spokesman Dan Stevens, the plane went through the house and landed in the garage, passing just to the right of the sleeping man, when it came down in a rural area approximately 90 miles northeast of Pittsburgh.

The man, Steve Yanko, and his dog were able to escape the house, according to his wife, Rose Yanko, who was shopping at the flea market when the accident occurred. She said that they planned to stay with her mother.

According to the Federal Aviation Administration, the BE58 Beech Baron took off from Arnold Palmer Regional Airport in Latrobe, Pa. shortly after 9 a.m. and crashed about 11 minutes later.

Stevens said the bodies of the deceased were recovered from the wreckage shortly after 3 p.m. after rescuers unearthed the plane from the collapsed garage. He said that it is believed there were only two people aboard the plane, but the search was continuing, as the tail section had not yet been uncovered in order to confirm the identification number.

Stevens said local officials believe they know the identities of the deceased, but would not release further information until the tail number could be confirmed.

Spring Lake Accident Injures Three

Spring Lake Accident Injures Three

An accident involving thee vehicles injured three people.

Tonya Scott was driving a Chevrolet Blazer that was struck by a Chevrolet truck.

The accident occurred near the Harnett County line on Tuesday.

Kourtney Jay and Kristain Murray were passengers in the Blazer. Murray was transported to UNC Hospital.

James Luna was charged with exceeding a safe speed and driving left of center.

Luna was traveling north on N.C. 87 and lost control of the truck. It was raining heavily.

The collision pushed the SUV into a Toyota operated by Henry Bowman of Lillington.

Minivan Accident Claims One Life

Minivan Accident Claims One Life

Five family members were killed and one person died in accident in Duplin County.

A family from Virginia were traveling home from Carolina Beach. The minivan was on West Trade Road in Calypso attempting to cross U.S. Highway 117 when it was hit by an eighteen wheel hog truck.

There were four adults and three children. A male adult was killed in the accident. A female had to be life-flighted to WakeMed. Four others were transported to area hospitals  to be treated for injuries.

There were no charges filed.

There is a caution light where the accident occurred.  There have been numerous accidents to occur in the same location.

Fatal Accident in Vance County

Fatal Accident in Vance County

A woman was killed when her vehicle crossed the center line on Stewart Farm Road, east of Henderson and hit another vehicle head-on Tuesday evening.

The deceased was identified as Gladys Adcox, 40, of Henderson.

Patrick Williams, 34, of Henderson was the driver of the truck.

According to the trooper, no charges were filed.

Fatal Accident in Vance County

Fatal Accident in Vance County

A woman was killed when her vehicle crossed the center line on Stewart Farm Road, east of Henderson and hit another vehicle head-on Tuesday evening.

The deceased was identified as Gladys Adcox, 40, of Henderson.

Patrick Williams, 34, of Henderson was the driver of the truck.

According to the trooper, no charges were filed.

Lenoir Teens Killed in Georgia Accident

Lenoir Teens Killed in Georgia Accident

Two teenagers from Lenoir Couty were killed in an accident on Interstate 95 in southern Georgia.

Claude Humphrey, of Deep Run, was traveling south just a few miles from the Florida state line. The rear tire on the vehicle Humphrey was driving blew out causing him to lose control of the vehicle. Humphrey's vehicle ran off the Interstate, overturned in aa ditch and struck a tree.

Katlyn Humphrey, 15, and Taylor Humphrey, 18, wrer killed in the accident. Neither of the two teens were wearing a seatbelt and were thrown from the vehicle.

Claude Humphrey, 51, and Carly Humphrey, 12, were transported to Shands Medical Center in Jacksonville, Fl.

Beverly Hunter, 48, was transported to Southeast Georgia Regional Medical Center in Kingsland, Ga

Mount Airy Woman Dies Of Injuries Sustained In Motorcycle Accident

A Mount Airy woman who suffered personal injuries in a July 5 motorcycle accident has now died of those injuries, the North Carolina Highway Patrol said.

According to a report filed by Trooper J.L. Martin, 40-year-old Gina Leann Jones sustained massive head trauma and died on July 22.

The report said that Jones was a passenger on a motorcycle operated by 49-year-old Mount Airy resident Dale Allen Trenter. They were westbound on U.S. 74 near the Scotland-Rockingham county line when the accident occurred.

According to the report, Jones is believed to have fallen asleep and fallen against Trenter’s back, causing him to lose control of the 2004 Harley Davidson. The bike overturned, ejecting both occupants.

According to Jones’ obituary in the Mount Airy newspaper, she was pronounced dead at a hospital in Charlotte.

Massive Wreck In Missouri Leaves Two Dead, Dozens Injured

Two buses transporting high school band students to an amusement park were involved in a crash on a freeway in Missouri also involving a tractor-trailer on August 5. Two people were killed in the accident and dozens suffered personal injuries, officials say.

According to Missouri Department of Transportation spokeswoman Jorma Duran, it has been confirmed that two people died, but she could not immediately say if they were occupants of one of the school buses.

SSM Cardinal Glennon Children’s Medical Center spokeswoman Ashley Wiehle said that 36 children received hospital transport. They were considered to be in good condition and were examined as a precaution.

The buses were transporting students from St. James High School. They were en route to the Six Flags amusement park located approximately 10 miles from the scene of the crash.

Aerial footage of the scene showed that the front end of one of the buses came to rest on top of the back of the tractor-trailer's cab. The second bus collided with a rear corner of the first bus. Firefighters hosed down the mangled debris and metal ladders provided access to the windows on the buses.

One Dead, One Injured In Accident Near Henderson

One woman suffered fatal personal injuries in an automobile accident on August 4 in which her vehicle crossed the center line of Stewart Farm Road, east of Henderson, and collided head-on with another vehicle, according to North Carolina state troopers.

The woman was identified by troopers as 40-year-old Henderson resident Gladys Chastian Adcox.

The driver of the second vehicle, 34-year-old Patrick O’Neal Williams, received transport to Maria Parham Medical Center for treatment for injuries that were not considered to be life-threatening.

One Dead, One Seriously Injured In Fayetteville Accident

A man suffered fatal personal injuries in an accident at the intersection of Yadkin Road and Pima Drive in Fayetteville on the morning of August 3, according to police.

Police say 25-year-old Dominic Tearry was eastbound on Yadkin road when his vehicle ran off the road and hit the curb. The vehicle lost control, overturned, and collided with a light pole.

Tearry and his passenger, 30-year-old Shaun Tearry, were ejected from the vehicle. Shaun Tearry was pronounced dead at the scene and Dominic Tearry received transport to Cape Fear Valley Hospital with injuries that were considered to be serious.

The two men are cousins.

Police say the accident remains under investigation and charges, if any, have yet to be filed.

Greensboro Woman Charged In Accident That Claimed Moped Driver

A woman from Greensboro is faced with multiple charges after police say she struck a man on a moped, who suffered fatal personal injuries in the accident.

Police say that at about 2:30 a.m. on August 1, 34-year-old Laree Johnson was traveling along West Florida Street in a 199 Honda Passport when she turned onto Hardie Street and struck a moped operated by Victor Cruz-Orosco.

Cruz-Orosco received hospital transport, but was later pronounced dead there.

Upon locating Johnson, police plan to charge her with felony death by vehicle, driving without a license, and driving while intoxicated.