Teen driver charged in head-on Gaston County collision

A short drive west of Charlotte will land you in Gaston County, site of a recent deadly car crash. According to the North Carolina Highway Patrol, a 16-year-old has been charged with misdemeanor death by vehicle and careless and reckless driving and booked into jail.

On a recent evening, the teen was allegedly speeding Patrick Road near Union Road. His vehicle was estimated to be going up to 80 mph in a 45 mph zone. The excess speed apparently contributed to his loss of control of his Ford Focus, which crossed the center line and slammed head-on into an oncoming vehicle.

The 83-year-old man driving that other vehicle was killed in the violent collision. His wife suffered life-threatening injuries in the wreck and is hospitalized in Charlotte.

Law enforcement officials said the speeding teen driver apparently lost control in a bend in the road. They said that they do not believe he was impaired.

A cousin of the man killed said, “God rest his soul. He was a good man…it’s a sad and tragic thing that happened down in that curve.”

The teen driver suffered minor injuries in the crash and was released from the hospital.
According to a news report, a man who lives near the crash site heard the collision. He said the curves in the road can be dangerous.

“I’ve seen lots of wrecks out here over 25 years, but I’ve never seen one that violent,” he said.

We wish a speedy and full recovery for the woman injured.

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