15-year-old with learner's permit crashes car at intersection

Rescue workers responding to the accident on East Ridge Road survey the two wrecked vehicles. Photo by Sarah Nagem, Salisbury Post

By Sarah Nagem

snagem@salisburypost.com

A 15-year-old with a learner permit crashed the car he and his family were traveling in Thursday evening.

Rescue workers took the boy, his twin brother and their parents to Rowan Regional Medical Center after the accident, which occured around 5:25 p.m., the Highway Patrol reported.

The driver, whose name is not being released because he is a juvenile, and his family were traveling north on Old Mocksville Road, Trooper C.M. Agner said.

The Toyota Avalon the family was in came to a halt at a stop sign and the driver attempted to cross the intersection at East Ridge Road, Agner said.

A GMC Denali sport utility vehicle traveling east on East Ridge Road slammed into the driver's side of the Toyota in the intersection.

Vehicles traveling through the intersection on East Ridge Road don't have to stop.

Agner did not know the medical conditions of the parents in the car, David and Nancy Snider, of 170 Bethaven Drive, Salisbury, or their sons.

David Snider was in the passenger's seat when the accident happened.

"He was up walking around," Agner said. "He had no complaints that he told me of."

Nancy Snider and the other boy were in the backseat of the car, Agner said.

Bryan Johnson, of 410 Dukeville Road, Salisbury, who was the driver of the Denali, and his wife, Katherine, were not taken to the hospital.

"They just pulled out in front of me," Johnson said after the crash.

"I slammed the brakes and swerved, and they just kept moving," he said.

Agner said neither of the drivers faces charges.

"I'm not sure what happened," Agner said. "I do know from the witnesses (the teen driver) did stop at the stop sign."

Brandy Berg of Salisbury said her vehicle was behind the Toyota near the intersection.

Berg said a car parked near the road at a convenience store at the intersection might have blocked the Denali from the young driver's view.

"You're not going to pull out in front of somebody who is going full speed unless you don't see them," Berg said.

Agner said he does not think Johnson was speeding.

The Snider family was returning home after Thanksgiving dinner, Agner said.

So were the Johnsons.

"I feel bad for the people hurt worse than us, that's for sure," Johnson said.