SPENCER — A woman passenger who wasn’t wearing a seatbelt was killed early Thursday evening in a one-car accident on Interstate 85 about a quarter-mile south of the Spencer Exit 81.
The victim, 22-year-old Tiffany West, was a passenger in the right backseat of a Chrysler PT Cruiser. She was pinned under the vehicle after it ran off the right side of the road and hit the guardrail before flipping on its side. The northbound car came to rest on its right side and was pointed south. Its smashed and scratched rooftop suggested that it had possibly rolled or slid on its top.
N.C. Highway Patrol Trooper Bradley Potts said Zolfa B. Allamabani, 18, was driving. He said she was charged with misdemeanor death by vehicle and failing to maintain lane control.
The two other women passengers were 18 and 19 years old.
Miller’s Ferry Fire Chief Bobby Fox said two of the women were ambulatory with minor injuries. All three were transported to Rowan Regional Medical Center, but Potts said only one was likely injured enough to need any treatment.
The Cruiser contained travel bags in the back, and several articles of clothing and shoes were strewn along the pavement near the car. The accident caused northbound traffic to back up past Exit 79, although emergency crews were able to keep one lane of traffic open.
Equipment and personnel from Miller’s Ferry Fire Department, Salisbury Fire Department, Rowan Rescue Squad and Rowan County EMS responded.
West has a Matthews address, but Potts said her family lives on Johnson Dairy Road in Rockwell. She was pronounced dead at the scene. The accident occurred just before 6:30 p.m.