Excess speed was the primary factor in the Dec. 22 crash that killed a woman and injured several other people at Lake Waccamaw.
Victoria Nicole “Tori” Simmons was driving around 60 miles per hour when her 2005 Chevrolet car nearly struck a truck, then collided with a 2016 GMC sport utility driven by Beth Bailey Willis, 33, of Stacy, N.C. Simmons died in the crash.
Simmons had three passengers in her car: Phillip Chase Ray, Alyssa Long, and Matthew Jernigan. Mrs. Wills had two small children in her vehicle.
The crash occurred around 7:30 p.m. in the 2200 block of Waccamaw Shores Road at Lake Waccamaw, according to the crash report.
Passengers in the Chevrolet told investigators that Simmons was headed north on Waccamaw Shores when she drifted into the southbound lane, nearly colliding with a truck driven by Benjamin Willis, Beth Willis’ husband. Willis ran off the road to avoid a crash. Simmons overcorrected, traveling off the roadway for around 80 feet.
The Chevrolet then hit a trashcan and returned to the roadway for another 55 feet before going off the road again for another 39 feet. The car began skidding to the left, which is when it collided with Mrs. Willis’ vehicle.
Mrs. Willis did not have time to apply her brakes or evade the car, according to the report. Her husband saw the crash.
Simmons was driving at around 60 miles per hour when the wreck occurred, according to the report.
Simmons was pronounced dead at the scene. Two passengers in Simmons’ vehicle were airlifted to New Hanover Regional, and one was taken by ambulance to Columbus Regional, the report said. Mrs. Willis and her children were also taken by ambulance to Columbus Regional.
The death was the 16th on county roadways this year.
