NEWTON GROVE, NC. (THECOUNT) — Donna Miles, 66, of Leland, was killed Saturday night when a wrong-way driver collided head-on with an SUV on Interstate 40 in Sampson County, southeastern North Carolina. The SUV was driven by Ashly Miles, 25, also of Leland. The wrong-way driver, Brian Skilton, 44, of Raleigh, was also seriously injured in the collision.
The crash occurred around 10:46 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 14, near mile marker 343 on eastbound I-40 near Newton Grove, according to the North Carolina State Highway Patrol.
Advertisement
Troopers were initially dispatched at approximately 10:34 p.m. after receiving a report of a minivan traveling westbound in the eastbound lanes of the interstate. About 12 minutes later, authorities were notified that the wrong-way vehicle had been involved in a head-on collision.
Investigators said Skilton was driving a 2019 Honda minivan westbound in the eastbound lanes when it collided with a 2017 SUV traveling east.
Donna Miles, a passenger in the SUV, was pronounced dead at the scene. Ashly Miles, who was driving the SUV, and Skilton were both airlifted to WakeMed in Raleigh for treatment. Their conditions were not immediately available.
Troopers said all three occupants were wearing seat belts.
Speed is not believed to have contributed to the crash. However, investigators suspect Skilton was impaired at the time of the collision. Impairment is not suspected on the part of the SUV’s driver.
Charges are pending as the Highway Patrol continues to investigate the fatal wrong-way collision.
The crash occurred near Newton Grove in Sampson County, in southeastern North Carolina, along the I-40 corridor between the Raleigh area and the state’s coastal region. The reported mile marker places the scene near Exit 343 for U.S. 701; the map below marks that nearby interchange as an approximate location, not a confirmed crash-site pin.
Google Maps: I-40 Exit 343, Newton Grove, NC (approximate crash location)
DEVELOPING::