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Two Women, Girl Dead After Hoke County Car Accident

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Hoke County Accident
HOKE COUNTY, N.C. — Authorities said a man driving a station wagon accidentally ran a stop sign Sunday in Hoke County and collided with a pickup truck. The collision killed two women and the man's 7-year-old daughter, N.C. Highway Patrol troopers said.

The driver, Arthur Morris of Raleigh, was visiting the Carolina Horse Park in Hoke County with his two daughters, 7-year-old Norah and 18-year-old Meghan, who are also from Raleigh.

Troopers said Arthur Morris was unfamiliar with the area and accidentally ran a stop sign at the intersection of Reservation Road and Calloway Road, just outside of Five Points.

When he ran the stop sign, Morris' station wagon collided with a pickup truck.

Upon impact, the pickup truck flipped and the station wagon split in half. Norah Morris was in the backseat of the station wagon and thrown from the vehicle. She was killed instantly, troopers said.

Both riders in the pickup truck also were killed instantly, troopers said.

The driver of the pickup truck was 57-year-old Betty Blevins. She was driving 78-year-old Ruby Crouch home from church, troopers said.

"She took me in and treated me just like a son, and I loved her to death," said Ed Lancaster, Rudy Crouch's friend.

Arthur and Meghan Morris were taken to Moore Regional Hospital, in Pinehurst, with non life-threatening injuries.

Charges are pending against Arthur Morris.

Many people who live in the area said accidents often happen at the intersection and a stoplight could help.

Nine days earlier, two others died around the corner from Sunday's accident.

"It's just a heavily traveled area. People seem to be in a hurry sometimes and just aren't paying attention," N.C. Highway Patrol Trooper F. K. Crumpler said. "The safety's in their hands," Crumpler said. "We're just the enforcers, but to be safe, you've got to take your own responsibility."

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