Accident takes woman's life
By Nick Hiltunen
Published in News on May 13, 2009 1:46 PM
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News-Argus/BOBBY WILLIAMS
State Highway Patrolmen and Mar Mac firefighters look over the scene of a fatal traffic accident at the intersection of U.S. 117 South and Old Mount Olive Highway about noon Tuesday. Wayne County EMS stations 8 and 9 also responded to the call, along with members of the Mar Mac First Response unit.
A Goldsboro woman was killed and a 1-year-old infant and another woman were in critical condition after an accident Tuesday morning at Mar Mac.
Anita Gail Grantham, 29, of Lincoln Drive, a passenger in a Lexus driven by Sheilena Brown of Goldsboro, died when it was struck by an 18-wheeler, state Highway Patrol Trooper Jason Edwards said.
The child was ejected from the car upon impact. The child and Ms. Brown were airlifted to Pitt Memorial Hospital, where they were listed in critical condition Tuesday.
A Pitt Memorial Hospital spokesman was unavailable for an update on their conditions this morning.
Edwards said Ms. Brown was traveling north on U.S. 117 and was in the left-hand turn lane at the intersection of Old Mount Olive Highway when the accident happened.
Ms. Brown apparently tried to make a right turn onto Old Mount Olive Highway from the left-turn lane, passing through an open lane of travel. As she crossed, an 18-wheeler driven by Melvin Evans Jr., 43, struck the car, the trooper said.
"As the truck was approaching the intersection, (Ms. Brown) made a sharp right turn," Edwards said. "That's when the tractor-trailer actually struck the passenger side of the vehicle."
The Lexus spun around and hit a utility pole, splitting it near its base.
"After the car was struck, it was pushed around 360 degrees," Edwards said. "It struck a utility pole and utility boxes."
The N.C. Department of Transportation was on the scene for hours afterward, repairing traffic signals and other roadway utilities, Edwards said.
None of the passengers in the Lexus, including the infant, were wearing seat belts, the trooper said.
At impact, a large piece of windshield glass from the Lexus broke free, striking a 1986 Honda driven by Angela Whitfield. Ms. Whitfield was uninjured and her vehicle sustained minor damages, Edwards said.
Charges are pending, the trooper said.
"Right now as far as charges, we're going to be speaking with the D.A. until we can figure out who was responsible," Edwards said.