Seven hurt in crash near Mount Olive
By John Joyce
Published in News on February 28, 2013 1:46 PM
News-Argus/BOBBY WILLIAMS
An unidentified man was in critical condition after this accident early today at the intersection of N.C. 55 and Indian Springs Road just east of Mount Olive. Five children en route to Carver Elementary School and the driver of the car also were taken to Wayne Memorial Hospital.
MOUNT OLIVE -- A two-car accident at the intersection of N.C. 55 and Indian Springs Road left a man critically injured and sent a mother and her five children to Wayne Memorial Hospital for treatment early this morning.
News of the wreck reached emergency personnel at 8 a.m. and, within minutes, a massive response, which included several emergency units, the Mount Olive Police Department, the Mount Olive Fire Department and the State Highway Patrol, ensued.
According to investigators, a black 1963 Chevrolet Bel Air driven by a middle-aged man was traveling eastbound on N.C. 55 when the vehicle was struck by a white Ford Explorer traveling southbound on Indian Springs Road. The Chevrolet was spun around and came to rest on the median facing the opposite direction. The Ford ran off the roadway and crashed into a ditch.
The driver of the Bel Air, believed to be in his late 50s or early 60s, was ejected from his vehicle and was in critical condition, emergency officials said at the scene.
The woman behind the wheel of the Explorer and each of the five children she was taking to Carver Elementary School were also injured in the crash. She and the children were conscious and able to speak with emergency personnel.
All of the people involved were taken to Wayne Memorial Hospital.
Officials at the scene said the driver of the Explorer would likely be cited in the incident, but that it was, as of press time, unclear what charges she might face.