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If you happened to be driving on NC 16 between Denver and Newton on Thursday night (Nov. 16th), chances are you encountered a delay that was caused by a multi-vehicle wreck.  One of the drivers involved in that collision died from her injuries on Saturday (Nov. 18th).  

According to a news release from the NC State Highway Patrol, the collision involving three passenger vehicles and a tractor-trailer occurred at approximately 11:30 pm at the intersection of NC 16 and Buffalo Shoals Road.

 

A 2023 Toyota Corolla traveling north on NC 16, entered the intersection on a red light and

struck a 2011 Honda Accord attempting to make a left turn from Buffalo Shoals Road onto NC 16. The collision caused both vehicles to become disabled in the northbound lanes of NC 16.

 

Approximately two minutes later, a 2010 Honda Civic, also traveling north on NC 16, struck the Accord. Following the collision, the driver of the Civic was able to pull off to a safe location on the shoulder of the roadway, away from the two disabled vehicles in the roadway.

 

A 2001 Peterbilt tractor-trailer traveling north on NC 16 then struck both those disabled vehicles. The impact caused the tractor-trailer and the Corolla to travel off the right side of the road into utility guy wires supporting an electrical power pole. The pole fell, striking the tractor-trailer and causing it to become inflamed.

 

Flames spread to the Corolla. The driver of the tractor-trailer, Richard Miles, 71, of Rockwood, Tennessee, and two passersby responded, removing the driver of the Corolla, Julia Annice Chandler, 34, of Hickory, from the burning vehicle.

Chandler was critically injured and transported by medical helicopter to Atrium Health Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte.   She succumbed to her injuries on Saturday (Nov. 18th).

 

Miles was not injured.  The driver of the Accord, Christopher David Hernandez, 21, Newton, was transported by EMS to

Catawba Valley Medical Center, with non-life-threatening injuries.  The driver of the Civic, Teresa Elaine Glenn, 61, of Newton, was not injured.

 

The initial investigation did not indicate impairment to be a contributing factor. 

 

The roadway was closed for approximately eight hours while utility crews restored the power lines.

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