Two motorcyclists killed in crash
By From staff reports
Published in News on April 19, 2009 2:00 AM
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News-Argus/BOBBY WILLIAMS
A state Highway Patrol trooper looks over the scene of a double fatality on U.S. 13 North Saturday afternoon.
Two men on motorcycles were killed Saturday afternoon on U.S. 13 North when they were struck head-on by a pickup truck.
Charles Poe, 59, of Greenville, and Lenwood Whitley, 57, of Chocowinity, were part of a group of motorcyclists headed south near Hood Swamp Road when a pickup driven by Billy Joe Fowler, 32, of Goldsboro, crossed the center line and hit them about 2 p.m., according to investigators with the state Highway Patrol.
Three other people were injured, at least one seriously, said Trooper A.R. Fowler, who is not related to the driver of the pickup.
Billy Joe Fowler was charged with two counts of felony death by motor vehicle, one county of inflicting serious injury by motor vehicle, driving while impaired and reckless driving, the trooper said.
Fowler, who was the only person in the white Ford pickup at the time of the accident, was being held Saturday night in the Wayne County Jail under $100,000 bond.
The names of the injured and their conditions were not known at presstime.
The Pinewood and New Hope volunteer fire departments and Wayne County Emergency Services responded to the call.