Ashe woman dies in wreck on U.S. 421 West

Carolyn Liddle Wyatt, 75, of Jefferson, died at the scene from her injuries, stated a press release from Master Trooper Jeffrey Swagger of the N.C. Highway Patrol.

Swagger said she was a passenger in a 2007 Chrysler Town & Country driven by Roy James Wyatt, 79, of Jefferson, who received non-life-threatening injuries and was transported by Wilkes Emergency Medical Services to Wilkes Medical Center in North Wilkesboro.

Swagger said the minivan was eastbound on U.S. 421 West when it ran off the right side of the highway. The vehicle came to a halt on its side in the South Prong of Lewis Fork Creek near where the creek flows under U.S. 421 through a large culvert.

The wreck occurred about 12:35 p.m. near where Siffords Branch Road intersects with U.S. 421 and a little over a mile west of where Lewis Fork Church Road intersects with U.S. 421 from the south and Boone Trail from the north.

Swagger said both occupants were restrained by seatbelts. He added that the initial investigation didn’t indicate impairment to be a contributing factor. “Possible charges are pending the ongoing investigation and consultation” with the district attorney’s office in Wilkesboro, the trooper said.

He said U.S. 421 was partially closed in the area for about two hours during the on-scene investigation. The Champion Fire Department and Wilkes Rescue Squad also responded.