Eight injured in two county crashes
By Andrew Bell
Published in News on June 15, 2006 1:52 PM
Eight people were injured in two accidents Wednesday afternoon in southern Wayne County.
One of the wrecks was related to the heavy rain that fell in the county, state Highway Patrol officers said. The other was not.
In both accidents, a driver was faulted for driving left of center.
The first, a head-on collision on Old Mount Olive Highway, was believed to be weather-related.
News-Argus/Bobby Williams
Members of the Mar-Mac Fire Department and Wayne County Emergency Services use power tools to extricate Gerald Keith Herring from his car after a head-on accident Wednesday afternoon on Old Mount Olive Highway.
Gerald Keith Herring Jr. of Sue Ellen Circle in Goldsboro was northbound in his 2006 Toyota when his vehicle collided with a southbound 1987 Oldsmobile driven by Wilbert Bernell Royal of Lincoln Drive in Dudley at about 2:45 p.m.
State Trooper J.L. Graham said rain likely contributed to the accident.
"Neither of the drivers could remember what happened. It was raining pretty heavy at the time, so one of the vehicles hydroplaning could also be a factor," Graham said.
Herring, 47, was charged with driving left of center.
He and Royal, 45, were both taken to Wayne Memorial Hospital. Herring suffered a broken right arm and broken right ankle. Royal had cuts and bruises on his arms, face and head.
Both vehicles were total losses. Graham said he estimated damages to Herring's car at about $10,000. The damage to Royal's car was estimated at $2,500.
Graham said Herring is diabetic and that his condition also could have played a role in the accident.
In the second accident, five members of one family and another woman were injured in a head-on crash on Camp Jubilee Road at about 5 p.m.
News-Argus/Bobby Williams
Seven Springs firefighters help a victim of a two-car accident on Camp Jubilee Road in southern Wayne County on Wednesday about 5 p.m. Six people were injured in the crash. Firefighters from the Indian Springs department assisted at the scene.
Kevin Thornton, 18, and his family were traveling south on Camp Jubilee Road when their Ford Taurus collided with a northbound Suzuki driven by Marion Jenkins, 61.
The accident happened in front of the home of Joshua McNary, a volunteer rescue worker. McNary stepped out his front door to see the accident and immediately turned and shouted for someone to call 911. Still dressed in his emergency gear, he attended to the injured until ambulances arrived. McNary's father, Joel, said the accident sounded like an explosion going off.
Mrs. Jenkins suffered a broken leg and was listed today in good condition at Wayne Memorial Hospital.
Riding with Thornton were Linda Thornton, 37, Wayne Thornton, 41, Brandon Thornton, 8, and Ashley Thornton, 15. Ashley, Brandon and Linda were treated and released by the hospital. Wayne's injuries were not severe enough to be admitted, but Kevin was listed in good condition at Wayne Memorial after breaking an arm.
State Trooper L.S. Smith said Mrs. Jenkins was charged with driving left of center but that the accident was not related to the wet road conditions.
The Indian Springs Volunteer Fire Department, the Seven Springs Volunteer Fire Department, five ambulances from the Wayne County EMS and four troopers assisted at the scene. The Seven Spring volunteers helped extricate those who were pinned in their vehicles.