For the second time in less than a month, two people died in separate auto crashes a short time apart in Columbus County this weekend. The wrecks happened Saturday evening.
Jacqueline Strickland died on Franklin Street after her 2009 Dodge was struck head on by a 2017 Jeep driven by Tanya Norris, according to a press release from Whiteville Police Lt. Thomas Riggins. The crash occurred at 6:17 p.m. on Franklin Street near the intersection with Caldis. Witnesses said another vehicle narrowly avoided Norris’ vehicle after it crossed the center line. The wreck is under investigation.
The first crash occurred in the Birdcage community near Chadbourn at 5:46 p.m. on Old 74 near Peacock Road. The driver, Roland Packer Jr. of the Chadbourn area, was ejected in the wreck. The impact was powerful enough that the engine and transmission were thrown from the vehicle, a witness said.
Sgt. K. McVicker of the Highway Patrol said the 2019 Jeep SUV crossed the centerline, went off the left shoulder, struck a driveway culvert, then overturned, striking g the tree. Packer was not wearing a seatbelt, and the speed of the Jeep was estimated at 100 miles per hour.
The last fatal crashes occurred here early Oct. 27, when a man was killed by a hit and run driver in Fair Bluff and a head-on collision killed a man near Western Prong. See the related story for an update on one of those deaths.
