Breaking News: Goldsboro Mother Killed, Three Injured in Wrong-Way Crash on U.S. 70; Driver Flees Scene

Clayton, North Carolina — December 15, 2024 — According to CBS 17, a tragic accident early Sunday morning on U.S. 70 Bypass resulted in the death of a Goldsboro mother and left three others, including a young child, with serious injuries after a wrong-way driver caused a devastating collision and fled the scene.

The North Carolina State Highway Patrol reported that the crash occurred around 3 a.m. in the eastbound lanes near mile marker 319 at Cornwallis Road. A man driving a white BMW was traveling westbound in the eastbound lanes when the vehicle collided head-on with a white Jeep Cherokee carrying four people from Goldsboro.

Following the crash, the BMW caught fire, but the driver escaped the wreckage and fled on foot. Despite an extensive search, which included the use of K-9 units, the suspect was not immediately located, according to authorities.

In the Jeep Cherokee, 24-year-old Kortney Summer Atkins, who was a passenger, succumbed to her injuries while being transported to WakeMed. The woman driving the Jeep, along with a 4-year-old boy and his father, sustained severe injuries and were also taken to WakeMed for treatment.

The boy’s father later confirmed to reporters that he was married to Atkins and that the young boy injured in the accident was their son.

State troopers revealed they had received multiple reports about the wrong-way BMW shortly before the crash. Authorities were actively searching for the vehicle before the incident but could not intercept it in time.

This marks the second deadly wrong-way crash in the region this month. Just 10 days prior, four people lost their lives in a similar collision on U.S. 301 near Mobley Road in Wilson County.

The Johnston County Sheriff’s Office and State Highway Patrol continue investigating the incident. Officials urge anyone with information about the crash or the whereabouts of the fleeing driver to contact the N.C. State Highway Patrol’s Johnston County division at 919-934-2186 or 919-733-3861.

This heartbreaking accident serves as a reminder of the dangers of wrong-way driving and its devastating impact on families and communities.

Our thoughts are with the friends, families, and loved ones of those injured and killed in the crash.

The Ramsay Law Firm has attorneys who are Board Certified in Workers’ Compensation claims to help individuals with severe injuries and death claims.

A Voice For The Injured. Here Every Step of The Way. Call 704-376-1616 or contact us online.

Notes: Our team created this post using secondary sources and has not independently verified all the facts surrounding the accident. If you find any incorrect details, please contact the Ramsay Law Firm so we can update the post with the most accurate information. This post will be removed if requested.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this post is not intended to be legal or medical advice and is not a solicitation for business. The photograph used in this post is not representative of this accident. If you are injured in an accident, seek medical attention immediately, then speak to a North Carolina personal injury lawyer as soon as possible.