06/02/05 — Two die in crash

View Archive

Two die in crash

By News-Argus Staff
Published in News on June 2, 2005 1:47 PM

GRANTHAM -- A son and his mother were killed Wednesday night in a one-car accident that was not discovered until today, the Highway Patrol said.

The victims were identified as the driver, Christopher Dale Harrell, 31, and the passenger, Brenda Lee Harrell, 56, both of 931 Edwards Store Road. Their home is believed to be in Sampson County, just across the Wayne County line.

State Trooper J.S. Smith, who investigated the accident, said the victims' car rounded a curve on Edwards Store Road near U.S. 13 South and ran off the right side. The driver overcorrected the steering, Smith said, and the car ran off the left side, jumped across a creek and struck an embankment on the other side.

The 1996 Buick was classified as a total loss.

The wreck was discovered by a passer-by at about 6:30 a.m. today.

Wayne County Emergency Service personnel and Jordans Chapel and Grantham volunteer firefighters also responded.

The twin fatalities were the ninth and 10th on Wayne County roads in 2005, including one in Goldsboro.

Eight people died during the first five months last year, officials said.