NC’s Catawba County.Authorities in Catawba County reported that a car driven by a 21-year-old male who was allegedly under the influence of alcohol lost control and flipped off Boggs Road, resulting in a tragic early-morning collision that claimed two lives and injured two more.
Crash kills two passengers, injures driver and front seat passenger
Around 2:15 a.m. on Thursday, July 17, a 2013 Ford Fusion was heading west on Boggs Road, close to Hunsucker Drive, when the deadly event happened. The vehicle crossed the center line, swerved off to the left, and overturned, crashing into many trees, according to the North Carolina State Highway Patrol (NCSHP).
The driver, a 21-year-old Catawba resident named Braiden Edward Cole, was taken to the hospital with minor injuries. Donnie Wayne Wilson Jr., a 53-year-old Claremont resident, was hospitalized after suffering severe injuries as his front seat passenger.
Savanah Averie Saine, 19, of Valdese, and an unnamed young child were in the rear seat. Both tragically passed away at the spot. Both were not wearing seatbelts at the time of the collision, according to investigators.
Impairment suspected, driver now facing felony charges
The NCSHP concluded that impairment most likely contributed to the fatal collision. Cole was taken into custody and accused of:
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Driving while impaired
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Two counts of felony death by motor vehicle
Boggs Road was closed for several hours following the collision while investigators worked on the site.
Crash location has deadly history
In September 2024, a head-on collision that killed a 4-year-old girl and injured five others occurred on this section of Boggs Road close to Hunsucker Drive due to heavy rain that preceded Hurricane Helene.
After several deadly collisions, should Catawba County take into account new safety regulations for Boggs Road? Visit atsaludastandard-sentinel.com to express your thoughts right now.
