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Published: 2011-11-21 16:29:00
Updated: 2011-11-21 16:55:22

Patrol rules out blown tire as cause of fatal I-40 wreck


Josh Witherspoon, killed in I-40 wreck
Josh Witherspoon, killed in I-40 wreck
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A blown tire didn't cause a head-on collision on Interstate 40 in Johnston County last week that killed a Smithfield couple, North Carolina State Highway Patrol investigators said Monday.

Terri Lynn Reeves, 20, and Joshua James Witherspoon, 22, died Thursday night when their eastbound 2006 Mitsubishi Eclipse crossed the I-40 median near the N.C. Highway 42 interchange and hit a westbound 2005 BMW X5 SUV and 2005 Lexus.

Their daughter, Shelby Faith Witherspoon, was trapped in her car seat in the back of the Mitsubishi for 20 to 30 minutes. She was listed in fair condition Monday at UNC Hospitals in Chapel Hill.

Reeves' brother said Friday that he feared a temporary spare tire on the Mitsubishi had blown out, causing her to lose control of the car.

Investigators found that all four tires on the car were intact and inflated, said First Sgt. Jeff Gordon, spokesman for the Highway Patrol.

Troopers also ruled out alcohol and excessive speeds as possible causes of the wreck and continue to investigate to determine what happened.

The funerals for Reeves and Witherspoon are scheduled for 8 p.m. Monday at Friendly Chapel Pentecostal Freewill Baptist Church in Benson. Burial will be Tuesday at Fellowship Community Cemetery in Angier.


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"No reason to speculate on what happen, it won't bring anyone back."

"If you look at their facebook page it shows a pic of her texting and driving like it was supposed to be funny. Now, I'm not a detective, but I wouldn't rule that one out."

That crossed my mind too. No alcohol, no speed, no blown tire; if she wasn't tailgating or something similarly aggressive and dangerous, or texting/dialing/talking, how did this happen? Hope they check her cell phone records.

Rebelyell55, this accident didn't just affect those who crossed the median. Three other people were hurt too and could have been killed. I gently suggest that we do have every right to speculate on what happened.

Maybe Terri was tending to baby. Turned to do whatever she needed in the back seat and was across the median and out of control don't take long for that to happen. I know you are supposed to pull over and also that Joshua was there also but sometimes things happen really fast and you just react as you see fit too. I hope Shelby continues to recover.

If you look at their facebook page it shows a pic of her texting and driving like it was supposed to be funny. Now, I'm not a detective, but I wouldn't rule that one out.

No reason to speculate on what happen, it won't bring anyone back. Only the two who die knows what happen. Grief is hard, and sometime there just isn't any answers.

@trianglerelic when i first moved here i tried riding my bike to work. after nearly getting run over several times i gave up and drove.

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