Lexington Couple Killed in Car Crash, One Victim Remains in Critical Condition | Shapiro, Washburn & Sharp

A Lexington, North Carolina couple was killed last Saturday morning in a traffic accident on N.C. 64 East.  The victims of the two vehicle crash include: Grant Fredrick Smith, 66, of 173 John Beck Road, and his wife, Cynthia Hawks Smith, 67,  who were killed when Grant Smith turned his Chrysler out into the path of a Chevy pickup truck driven by Neal Jerome Byerly, 45, of 736 Kepley Road.

 

According to the N.C. Highway Patrol report,  the accident occurred just prior to 7 a.m.. Grant Smith pulled out in front of and collided head-on with Byerly, who was traveling west on N.C. Highway 64 East. It appears that Smith failed to stop at a stop sign. Those familiar with the crash have estimated that theyt spped of Byerly’s car was around 55mph at the time of impact.

 

N.C. State Trooper B.D. Stalvey, who first responded to the accident, reported that Smith and his wife had died on the scene. The survivors of the crash, Byerly and his wife, Sharon Suttle Byerly, were transported to Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center where Neal Byerly was listed in good condition and his wife, Sharon is in critical condition as we speak.

 

In 2007, 196,000 older individuals were injured in traffic crashes, accounting for 8 percent of all the people injured in traffic crashes during the year. These older individuals made up 14 percent of all traffic fatalities, 14 percent of all vehicle occupant fatalities, and 19 percent of all pedestrian fatalities. Most traffic fatalities involving older drivers in 2007 occurred during the daytime (79%), occurred on weekdays (72%), and involved other vehicles 71%

 

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