Princeton High student injured in wreck

Princeton, N.C. — State toopers said that a single-vehicle wreck injured a Princeton High School junior along Bakers Chapel Road, southwest of Princeton, Thursday morning.

A vehicle driven by Patrick Jacobs Jr., 17, of Smithfield, went off the road at 2926 Bakers Chapel Road shortly before 8:30 a.m., Trooper D. Braswell said. The vehicle hit two culverts at private driveways and came to rest upside down in a ditch, trapping Jacobs inside.

Jacobs was transported to WakeMed. He was listed in good condition Thursday evening.

Jacobs was going home after a church lock-in New Year's Eve, and fatigue caused the wreck, Braswell said.

Jacobs was charged with failure to maintain lane control. He was wearing a seat belt, troopers said.

Jacobs' father, Patrick Jacobs, is the principal of Smithfield-Selma High School.

State, county and education have been working to reduce wrecks involving teens in Johnston County. In 2007, the county led the state with most traffic fatalities among those between 15 and 24 years old. Since 2006, nearly 30 teens have died in wrecks on county roads.

Jacobs' high school has been hit especially hard: Four Princeton High seniors and a recent graduate have died in wrecks since September 2007.