THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, June 16, 1996 TAG: 9606160022
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY LANE DEGREGORY, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NAGS HEAD LENGTH: 54 lines
Two Dare County paramedics who were on their way to work, and at least three other people, were injured early Saturday in a three-vehicle accident on the U.S. 158 Bypass just south of Jockey's Ridge State Park.
According to witness and police accounts, the accident happened in this way:
About 7:15 a.m., a white minivan heading north on the five-lane highway drifted across the road into the southbound lane, striking a red Ford Explorer head-on. The Ford rolled over and landed on its side. A second truck also heading south then ran into the vehicles. That truck landed on its side in a ditch near Soundside Road.
Nags Head police Lt. Rex Meads had not seen the official report on the incident by 8 p.m. Saturday - so it was unclear what caused the accident or whether any charges had been filed.
Dare County paramedics Wendy Michael and Ron Willoughby were headed to work in one of the trucks - police did not say which - and received the worst injuries in the accident, said Doug Remaley, Dare County fire marshal. A witness said they tried to kick the windshield of their truck out after the vehicle overturned, but were unable to escape until a fire truck pulled their truck back onto its wheels and helped them get free.
Michael had neck and back pains but was listed in good condition Saturday night at Chesapeake General Hospital. Willoughby was flown by helicopter to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital, where he was scheduled to undergo surgery for a broken jaw. Hospital workers said he was in stable condition Saturday night. At least three other people were hurt, a Nags Head police report said. Remaley, who was at the accident scene, said he thought a total of nine people were in the three vehicles.
Other victims were treated at Outer Banks Medical Center, but their identities were not released.
``The bypass had to be closed for about an hour,'' Remaley said. ``All three vehicles appeared to be totaled - and had to be towed away from the scene.''
Sherri Johnson, 32, of Manteo was on her way to work in Kitty Hawk when the crash happened in front of her.
``Everybody was going pretty fast. And they really smashed together,'' Johnson said.
``The people in the van apparently had been sleeping because I could see them all holding blankets and pillows.''
MEMO: Staff writer Ronald L. Speer contributed to this story.Staff
writer Ronald L. Speer contributed to this story. ILLUSTRATION: Color photo by Drew Wilson
KEYWORDS: ACCIDENT TRAFFIC INJURIES OUTER BANKS
by CNB