N.C. Highway Patrol
RALEIGH- Preliminary statistics indicate that 17 people died in nine separate crashes on North Carolina roadways this past weekend.

In the crashes seven of the victims were not wearing seat belts. Single-fatality crashes occurred in Surry, Davie, Catawba, Rowan, Johnston and Alamance counties.

One crash that resulted in six fatalities occurred in Transylvania County. Daniel Kayce Norris, 20, of Brevard was traveling east on U.S. 64 about 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, April 19th when he crossed the centerline and struck Joi Mari Mathis, 29, of Asheville head-on. Norris and Mathis were killed in the crash. Also killed in the crash were; Christopher Burgin, 32 of Black Mountain, Isiah Johnson, 7, of Asheville, Keyshawn Johnson, 8, of Asheville, and Christian Burgin, 9, of Candler.

A triple fatality occurred in Columbus County on Saturday, April 18, when a vehicle traveling west on NC 214 crossed left of the centerline and struck a vehicle operated by Brandon Mintz, 19, of Delco. Mintz and his two passengers, Brandon Tedder, 23, of Whiteville and Daniel Sykes, 13, of Tabor City were killed in the collision. Alcohol use was a factor in this collision.

A double fatality occurred in Wayne County on April 18 when a vehicle crossed left of center and struck four motorcycles on US 13. Two of the motorcyclists were killed; Charles Poe, Jr., 59, Greenville and Lenwood Whitley, 57, of Chocowinity.

Through April 17, preliminary statistics indicate that 318 people have lost their lives on North Carolina roadways during 2009. Of those killed 124 were not wearing their seatbelts. Fourteen fatalities involved a motorcycle and forty-six fatalities have involved the use of alcohol.