Head-On Crash Kills Campbell Professor, 2nd Driver

Newton Grove, N.C. — A head-on, two vehicle crash Saturday night on U.S. Highway 701 in Sampson County claimed the lives of a Campbell University pharmacy professor and a second driver and injured a third person, the Highway Patrol said.

Lewis M. Fetterman Jr.,  58, of Clinton, was driving a Chrysler minivan south when a northbound 1992 Ford crossed the highway and they collided head-on, troopers said. The Ford driver, Alejandro Antonio Rivas, also died.

Joni-Fay Watts Fetterman, 56, a passenger in the minivan, was taken to Sampson Regional Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries, the patrol reported. She was released from the hospital Sunday.

The crash happened about 1.7 miles south of Newton Grove.

Troopers said Rivas, of 264 Preston Lane, is thought to have had alcohol in his system. Toxicology reports have not been released yet. The 46-year-old was not a licensed driver, troopers said.

Lewis Fetterman was an assistant professor of pharmaceutical sciences at Campbell. He held a doctorate in analytical chemistry.

“He was viewed as a strong, forthright, Christian, gentleman scholar and I think we're all deeply saddened by his loss,” said Dr. Thomas Holmes, associate dean of pharmaceutical sciences at Campbell.

Holmes, taught along side Fetterman. He said students and faculty will remember Fetterman for his work, his friendship and his strong connections to this university.

In 1950, Fetterman's mother, Annabelle Lundy Fetterman, opened the Lundy Packing Company in Clinton. The meat packing plant was sold to Premium Standard Farms in 2000. The Fetterman family is a big financial supporter of Campbell.

“At moments like this, we share the grief and (we) support the family through this difficult time,” Holmes said.

The university's School of Business in named in honor of the Lundy-Fetterman family.