Morganton, NC : One person airlifted in head-on collision on Thursday, October 5, 2017

A woman was airlifted to a Charlotte hospital Thursday morning with life-threatening injuries after a van crossed the center line and hit her car.

The woman was driving a Toyota Corolla east on Fleming Drive toward Morganton Heights Shopping Center when the crash happened, said Capt. Jason Whisnant with the Morganton Department of Public Safety.

Three witnesses saw the Plymouth van cross over the yellow line near Asheville Street around 8:30 a.m. and collide with the car, Whisnant said. The driver of the van then got out of the vehicle, walked to the shoulder of the road and collapsed, he said.

Witnesses said the driver of the van did not slow down before the collision, Whisnant said. However, both cars were traveling near the speed limit, and speed does not seem to be a factor in the crash, he said.

Both vehicles’ airbags deployed, and at least three of the occupants were wearing their seatbelt, Whisnant said. Officers are not sure about the driver of the van, who appeared to have internal injuries.

Whisnant said there were open alcohol containers in the van. Police have reason to believe the driver might have been impaired by alcohol, Whisnant said.

Each driver was traveling with one passenger, Whisnant said. Everyone was transported to a local hospital except for the driver of the Corolla, who had to be removed from the vehicle and airlifted to a Charlotte hospital, he said.

Whisnant said officers plan to charge the driver of the van with driving left of center. The name of the drivers and the passengers had not been released as of noon Thursday.

Burke County Rescue Squad, Burke County REACT, Burke County EMS and firefighters with MDPS also responded to the scene.


Source :
One person airlifted in head-on collision