MILLERS CREEK, N.C. – One person is dead and another was sent to the hospital following a three-vehicle crash in Wilkes County on Thursday afternoon, according to the North Carolina State Highway Patrol.
Officials said it happened on NC 16 near Nichols Landing Lane at around 1:30 p.m. A 2009 Toyota Vezna was traveling south behind a 2012 Chevrolet Silverado on NC 16.
The Chevrolet vehicle, driven by 81-year-old Willliam Allen Binge, attempted to make a left turn onto a private driveway. The Toyota driver failed to reduce speed in time and veered left, colliding with the Chevrolet, police said.
After the initial collision, the Toyota continued traveling into oncoming traffic and hit a 2008 Jeep Liberty head-on.
Shane Reese Cleary, 20, operating the Toyota, wasn’t wearing his seatbelt and was ejected from the vehicle, police said. He died at the scene.
Binge was not injured in the crash.
The Jeep driver, 43-year-old Nathan Shane Oxentine, was transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
NC 16 was closed for approximately three hours.
No charges are expected to be filed, officials said.
