Three killed in crash with tractor-trailer

Three people were killed Tuesday morning when a tractor-trailer ran a red light and plowed into a compact car at the intersection of U.S. 70 and N.C. 258 in Kinston.

Barbara Faasii, Geraldine Farron West Kean and James Harvey Mewborn were pronounced dead at the scene. Faasii and Mewborn were Kinston residents and Kean, who was Faasii's sister, lived in Greenville.

"We had an 18-wheeler crossing 70 on Queen Street," Kinston Department of Public Safety spokesman Woody Spencer said. "The car was turning east onto highway 70 and had a green arrow.

"The 18-wheeler ran the red light and impacted the car."

The accident occurred at 9:11 a.m.

Spencer said the driver of the tractor trailer, Aubrey Ray Weddle, a 67-year-old from Floyd, Va., was taken to Lenoir Memorial Hospital. Emergency personnel assisted Weddle into an ambulance on the scene, though he walked under his own power.

Police said they were told by witnesses there was "evidence of a medical problem" with Weddle shortly before the crash happened. Weddle has been admitted to the critical care unit at LMH.

So far, no charges have been filed against him.

Kelly Dail was heading east on U.S. 70 toward Lenoir Community College from Goldsboro when she witnessed the crash.

"I'm at the light to turn left toward downtown Kinston and it was my turn to go," Dail said. "It was a green arrow. The gentleman in that car went to turn and the next thing I know, two seconds later, this 18-wheeler truck comes through the intersection ... he just totally plowed over the man.

"He hit him, and then (the truck) jumped over his vehicle."

Dail, a student at LCC, said she was thankful to have avoided being part of the crash.

"Whoever was in that car," she said, crying, "just saved my life."

The wreckage remained through noon in the grassy median between the highway and south end of Queen Street, where the tractor trailer ran over a utility pole and knocked out power to the traffic signal. The trailer wheels were over the base of the pole, while the rear wheels of the truck still sat on top of the car.

Wrecker and tow trucks initially helped to shift the rig off the car to allow emergency personnel to work. Several people wore white hazardous material suits.

Traffic heading west on U.S. 70 was rerouted through Kinston via Queen Street and Vernon Avenue. U.S. 70 eastbound traffic was detoured at Skinner's Bypass to N.C. 11 south and onto Asphalt Road before being directed to Collier Loftin Road.

Detours were taken down and traffic flow returned to normal at about 2:30 p.m.

Justin Schoenberger can be reached at (252) 559-1075 or jschoenberger@freedomenc.com.