Two killed in weekend county accidents
By Nick Hiltunen
Published in News on September 22, 2009 1:46 PM
Two people died and another was still in critical condition following two separate accidents over the weekend, Highway Patrol authorities said Monday.
On Sunday afternoon, a motorcycle and a truck collided at the intersection of N.C. 581 and Pinkney Road, near Fremont, Trooper Christopher Cook said.
Robert Allen Beasley of Bailey was traveling south on a motorcycle on N.C. 581 when he collided with a northbound pickup driven by Billy Ray Grice, 64, Cook said.
Both men had their wives with them, Elma Grice of Pinkney Road and Karen Ann Beasley of Bailey, Cook said.
The trooper said it appeared from his investigation that Grice was turning onto his home street, Pinkney Road, crossing the path of the motorcycle around 12:15 p.m.
When Beasley's motorcycle struck the truck, it went "completely under the truck," the trooper said.
"They (the vehicles) didn't move, they stayed right there. The motorcycle ... it was pretty much stuck inside the truck," Cook said.
Beasley, 36, was killed.
His wife was first taken to Wayne Memorial Hospital and later airlifted to Pitt Memorial Hospital in Greenville, the trooper said. A hospital spokesman said Mrs. Beasley was in critical condition on Monday afternoon.
Charges may be pending after more investigation, authorities said.
Another accident happened Saturday night, when Adam Wagner, 55, drove his 1995 Saturn passenger vehicle into a ditch on his home street, First Sgt. Jerry Burton said.
Wagner was headed south on Hood Swamp Road, where he lived, near Beston Road, Burton said.
The first sergeant said Wagner drove his vehicle off the road to the right around 7 p.m., striking a ditch and overturning on Hood Swamp Road. Alcohol was suspected to have played a role in the crash.
Burton said that emergency officials transported Wagner to Wayne Memorial Hospital, where he later died.
Wagner was not wearing a seat belt, authorities said. How much of a factor alcohol played in the crash will be determined by toxicology reports, authorities said.