Driver dies in crash
By Gary Popp
Published in News on December 16, 2011 1:55 PM
A 79-year-old Faison woman was killed in a car accident early today on N.C. 55 about five miles east of Mount Olive.
Betty Jean Herndon of Soloman Street in Faison, apparently pulled out in front of a passing vehicle at the intersection of N.C. 55 and Pineview Cemetery Road about 7:45 a.m., said Trooper Bennie Grady of the state Highway Patrol.
"It appears Ms. Herndon died at impact," Grady said.
Ms. Herndon, the only occupant in her car, was traveling north on Pineview Cemetery Road, which requires motorists to stop at a stop sign then yield to N.C. 55 traffic.
The apparent cause of the accident was Mrs. Herndon's failure to yield, Grady said.
He said it is unclear if Ms. Herndon came to a complete stop at the intersection. He did say she was traveling at a low rate of speed in her 2002 Chevrolet Cavalier at the time of the collision.
She was struck by a passenger car driven by Bret Scott Jaros, 20.
The vehicle was carrying Jaros and three other men, none of whom were hurt, Grady said.
The men are all from Raleigh and are missionaries with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Saints. They were on their way to Kinston, Grady said.
The trooper said the car driven by Jaros appears to have been abiding by the posted speed limit of 55 mph.
No charges will be filed in the incident, Grady said.