Alabama Man Killed In Lumberton Crash

The North Carolina Highway Patrol said that a man from Alabama suffered fatal personal injuries in an automobile accident on Interstate 95 near Lumberton in which the sport utility vehicle he was driving collided with a tractor-trailer and overturned on the evening of March 24.

According to the NCHP, 75-year-old Athens, Alabama resident Oran Ronald Pritts died in the accident, which took place about three miles north of Lumberton. His wife, 68-year-old Pamelia Pritts, received transport to Southeastern Regional Medical Center to undergo treatment for apparent bumps and bruises.

Troopers said Pritts was northbound in a 2003 GMC when he attempted to pass a tractor-trailer in the right lane about 6 p.m. and lost control of the vehicle. He overcorrected and the SUV skidded across the right lane and went into the emergency lane, according to Trooper D.E. Raynor.

The truck, owned by Denning Transport in Benson and driven by 44-year-old Benson resident Kevin Townsend, braked hard to avoid the SUV, but also entered the emergency lane and collided with the GMC, Raynor said. Townsend was uninjured.

The impact caused the GMC to strike the end of a guardrail, flip over, and land on its roof on the shoulder.