Mother Killed, Twins Injured in Johnston Accident

Jammi Lynn Toy, 29, of Rockpillar Road, was westbound on N.C. Highway 42 in a Mazda Tribute at about 8:45 a.m. when she crossed the center line near Castleberry Road east of Clayton, said Trooper Tommy Emory, of the state Highway Patrol.

The SUV hit the front wheel of an eastbound dump truck, which was hauling an excavator on a trailer, and scraped along the side of the truck before flipping, Emory said.

Toy, who was on her way to drop her daughters at day care, was killed in the wreck, authorities said. The 4-year-old twins climbed out of the SUV on their own but were taken to WakeMed for treatment of minor injuries, authorities said.

Toy managed a Blockbuster store and worked part time overnight as a newspaper carrier for the News & Observer. Authorities said she worked a 2 a.m. to 6 a.m. shift for the newspaper Friday and might have fallen asleep while driving, based on how the SUV drifted slowly across the center line.

The dump truck ran off the side of the road after the collision. Driver Steven Wayne Lee, 49, was taken to WakeMed as a precaution, while passenger Hugo Garcia, 23, was uninjured in the wreck.

"(The dump truck driver) was well shaken up understandably. He immediately came out of the truck, (went) back to check on the other motor vehicle and occupants and came upon the deceased," Emory said.

N.C. 42 was closed for a couple hours as authorities cleared the wreckage. It reopened at about 11 a.m. Friday.

Toy also is survived by her husband and two elementary school-age sons, authorities said.