Man dies in wreck
By Phyllis Moore
Published in News on March 14, 2004 2:06 AM
MOUNT OLIVE -- A 21-year-old man who drove his car into a house near Mount Olive early Saturday morning later died at Pitt Memorial Hospital in Greenville.
Anthony Victor Murphey of C.E. Grady Road lost control of his car on N.C. 55 about four miles west of Mount Olive, hit the house and was ejected from the vehicle.
David Jacobs, owner of the house, said the accident occurred around 6:45 a.m. while he and his 5-year-old son Cole were in their living room. His wife, Marycharles, and their 11-year-old son Dylan were asleep.
"We heard the accident before it ever hit the house," Jacobs said.
He said he heard a car leave the road and then hit a fence outside the home. The car flew into the air and hit the house. "It took out two columns from the front porch," he said.
The impact occurred about six feet from where Jacobs and his son sat.
"It's unbelievable," he said Saturday night. "We're still in shock."
He said the car came to rest beside his wife's 1999 Suburban, causing mostly scratches.
"He was thrown from the car at some point," Jacobs said. "He did not have on a seat belt."
Murphey ended up in the side yard, about 10 feet from his car. Soon after, the car burst into flames.
The Smith Chapel Fire Department dispatched three trucks, and 18 fire personnel assisted. Murphey was taken to Wayne Memorial Hospital by Wayne County EMS and was later be airlifted to Pitt Memorial Hospital, where he died.
No one in the home was injured. Jacobs said the car struck right below a power line, missing it by about four inches.
Jacobs said he did not know Murphey, but has a 20-year-old son stationed in Baghdad who did. He said Murphey lived about five miles from the Jacobs' residence.
"Our prayers go out to family," he said.