Marines Aid Victims in Car Accident

A Richlands woman was killed in a two-vehicle accident on U.S. 258 South.

The fatal accident occurred at 6443 U.S. 258 South near the Dooley's Grocery Store.

According to State Trooper D.E. McLawhorn, Vicky Taylor, 53, of Richlands was driving a 1995 Mitsubishi truck northbound on U.S. 258 when she crossed the road's center line, and collided with a white 2004 Volvo S80 sedan driven southbound by Priscilla Preston, 77, of Greenville.

Taylor was taken to Lenoir Memorial Hospital, where she was pronounced dead. Preston suffered two broken arms and was listed in stable condition at Pitt County Memorial Hospital on Tuesday night.

Both vehicles sustained heavy damage in the collision. Several eyewitnesses saw the truck cross the center line.

Pam Kendall of Richlands was driving her black Volkswagen directly behind the Mitsubishi truck before the accident. Kendall was driving to work at Dooley's Grocery Store.

"I was behind the truck, when all of a sudden it started to run off the road to the right," Kendall said. "I got behind the truck and started to blow my horn to get the driver's attention. I didn't know if the driver was falling asleep or was sick, but the truck was moving around the road erratically."

The truck then suddenly veered left and hit a Volvo driven by Preston, Kendall said. Kendall then drove less than 50 yards to Dooley's where an employee inside called 911.

Meanwhile, three busloads of U.S. Marines from the 2nd Battalion 8th Marines Unit based in Camp Lejeune were traveling through the accident scene and stopped to assist Preston and Taylor. Several of the Marines witnessed the accident as well.

According to eyewitnesses, several Marines used vehicle lift jacks to raise the Mitsubishi truck off Taylor, who was ejected from her truck.

Several Marines and U.S. Navy Corpsmen provided medical aid to both victims before local emergency crews from Deep Run, Pink Hill and Southwood arrived at the scene.

Deep Run Volunteer Fire Department Capt. John Whitfield said when he arrived at the scene, the Marines were already helping the victims.

"They did a fantastic job," Whitfield said about the Marines' performance at the accident scene. "I thank them for all that they did."

Deep Run resident Ernest Murphy was driving through the area after the accident and witnessed the Marines jump into action.

"Those men did a great job," Murphy said. "They lifted the truck up off of that woman."

McLawhorn said Taylor was driving behind her husband, Harry Taylor, who was also driving a 1995 Mitsubishi truck. Both trucks had BBQ Pigs Incorporated logos on them and were traveling to Kinston before the accident.

According to the McLawhorn, Vicky Taylor had high blood pressure but had no other known medical problems that could have contributed to the fatal accident. Both Taylor and Preston were driving below the 55 mph speed limit when the accident occurred.

"We don't know why she was driving the way she did," McLawhorn said.

McLawhorn thanked the Marines for their efforts in trying to save both victims' lives.

"They did an excellent job," he said.