Woman identified in fatal wreck
By Casey Mozingo
Published in News on June 15, 2018 5:50 AM
The woman who died in a fatal, three-vehicle wreck Wednesday has been identified by the N.C. Highway Patrol.
Eboni Harris, 25, of Pikeville, was declared dead at the scene, after the car she was traveling in, a Mazda 626 driven by Dakila Hines, 30, of Goldsboro, slowed unexpectedly on U.S. 70, near Exit 370 where the U.S. 70 Bypass begins just inside Lenoir County, according to the N.C. Highway Patrol.
The Mazda was struck near the back passenger door by a Honda Odyssey, said Trooper Andre Barrett, with the N.C. Highway Patrol. A Chevrolet S-10 then hit the van, and all three cars came to a rest in the westbound lanes of the U.S. 70 Bypass.
Following the accident, which took place at about 1 p.m., firefighters with the LaGrange and North Lenoir fire departments worked for about 15 minutes to extricate Harris, who was pinned in the back seat as a result of the collision, Barrett said. Harris was pronounced dead at the scene, shortly after being put in the ambulance.
Dakila Hines, the driver, and Lavetia Hines, who was sitting in the back seat with Harris, were both taken to UNC Lenoir Health Care. Dakila Hines was treated and released a few hours later, and Lavetia Hines was flown to Vidant Medical Center with serious injuries. Neither passenger was wearing a seat belt, Barrett said.
It is unclear why Dakila Hines slowed on the roadway, but Barrett said that there were no obstructions on the road that would have caused anyone to abruptly slow down.
No one in the other two cars was injured, Barrett said. The drivers' names have not been released.
Barrett said that no one has been charged in the wreck, yet.
"It's not a clear cut one person is at fault and one isn't," he said.