ASHEBORO NC – A total of ten vehicles were involved in three separate, but related crashes, this morning on I-73 near Vision Drive.
According to a press release by the NC Highway Patrol, at 6:19 AM on Monday, March 1st, 2021, troopers responded to I-73 near Vision Drive to a report of multiple vehicle accidents.
According to an official statement, the incident started when Ronald Wheeler, 60, of Albemarle N.C., was traveling north in a 2012 Peterbilt tractor-trailer in the left lane. (Trexler Trucking, Inc. is listed as the registered owner). Deizer Hernandez, 27, of Biscoe N.C., was traveling north in a 2005 Nissan passenger car in the right lane. Wheeler attempted to change lanes and collided with Hernandez. After the impact, Hernandez lost control, traveled off the roadway to the left, and collided with the median guardrail. Wheeler was charged with making an unsafe lane change.
Immediately after the first accident James Chapman, 59, of Asheboro in a 2001 Chevrolet SUV and Lila Haga 22, of Asheboro, in a 2019 Dodge pickup traveling north when they come upon the first accident. Chapman traveled off the roadway to the left to avoid colliding with Hernandez. Haga traveled off the roadway to the left and collided with Chapman and a guardrail. Haga was charged with failure to reduce speed.
At 6:20 a.m. a third crash occurred which involved the following driver(s) that were traveling north and are listed by the order they were traveling:
- Jose Valenciaprieto, 29, of Ramseur N.C., in a 2018 Hyundai passenger car.
- Reina Martinez, 43 of Asheboro N.C., in a 2017 Honda passenger car.
- Morgan Farr, 30 of Asheboro N.C., in a 2012 Nissan passenger car.
- Vernon Morton, 56, of Asheboro N.C., in a 2016 Chevrolet pickup. Scott Trotter 52, of Asheboro N.C., in a 2015 Dodge pickup.
- Brianna Arevalo, 30, of Asheboro N.C., 2016 Nissan SUV.
Valenciaprieto, Martinez, and Farr were stopped in the travel lane. Morton was slowing down and was struck in the rear by Trotter. Morton then collided with Farr, Farr then collided with Martinez, and Martinez collided with Valenciaprieto. Arevalo collided with the rear of Trotter. Trotter and Arevalo were charged with failure to reduce speed.
The only reported injury was to an adult passenger of Hernandez (from the first accident), who was transported to Randolph Health.
Troopers cleared the scene cleared at 8:31 a.m.