By Shelley Smith
ssmith@salisburypost.com
MT. ULLA — A Rowan County man is dead after a two-vehicle collision at the intersection of N.C. 150 and Graham Road around 6 p.m. Tuesday.
The wife of the victim was flown to Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte and was in serious condition Wednesday morning.
Wayne Weaver, who was driving a gold Honda Accord, was dead when emergency responders arrived. He was not wearing his seatbelt, authorities said.
His wife, Alice, was conscious. A landing zone for the hospital’s medical helicopter was set up near Patterson Farm to rush her to hospital.
The N.C. State Highway Patrol said a red Ford Sport Trac SUV was westbound on N.C. 150 when the Honda pulled into the intersection from Graham Road. The truck hit the driver’s side door of the Honda, sending the Honda into the east-bound shoulder of the road.
The driver’s side door, rear passenger door, windshield and roof of the car had to be cut off to get to Alice Weaver.
The driver of the SUV was not injured.
Trooper B.S. Roberts said the investigation is ongoing, and three witnesses are being interviewed.
The Weavers are members of St. Luke’s Lutheran Church in Mt. Ulla, and the Rev. Mary Louis Sitton and church member Jan Goforth were at the scene, praying with firefighter and fellow church member Andy Russell.
Sitton said Alice Weaver is the church’s treasurer.
“One split second changes everything,” Sitton said. “But God was with them in that split second.
“We’re all closely connected. We all prayed and we prayed for the man (driver of truck) in the wreck, also, because we know he’s dealing with emotional trauma, also.”
A section of N.C. 150 was closed and traffic was diverted for more than two hours.