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One person died and five were hurt in a head-on collision Wednesday at Lake Waccamaw.
Victoria Nicole “Tori” Simmons, 19, died at the scene of the Waccamaw Shores crash.
Chief Scott Hyatt said Simmons was heading toward Dupree Landing in the 2200 block of Waccamaw Shores Drive when she crossed the center line around 7:30 p.m. Her Chevrolet collided head-on with another vehicle that was traveling northeast on Waccamaw Shores.
Two passengers in the Chevrolet were airlifted to New Hanover Regional. The fourth passenger and the driver of the second car were taken to Columbus Regional by ambulance. Two small children in the back of the second vehicle were not seriously injured, Hyatt said.
Rescue units from Lake Waccamaw, Whiteville, Chadbourn, Buckhead and Acme-Delco-Riegelwood responded. Two AirLink helicopters were also deployed, and landed at the new parking lot at the Sigmon Wildlife Landing.
Megan Adams described Simmons as “an all around sweetheart. She definitely knew how to light up a room with her personality.”
Simmons was going to school to weld, a trade she loved, Adams said.
“She loved taking pictures. She loved her nephew, and her dog Sadie.”
Adams said she knew Simmons through a close friend.
“She was an amazing girl,” Adams said. “Very sweet and very free spirited.”
Hyatt said the tragedy hit people hard at the lake, where Simmons had several friends.
“It’s even worse at Christmas time,” Hyatt said. “We just want to offer our condolences to the family. Our thoughts and prayers are with all the families involved in this.”
Simmons was the 16th person to die on county roads this year.
