Wreck kills one mother-to-be; other loses unborn twins

A pregnant woman died in a wreck Saturday on the way to a Robeson County hospital with her pregnant cousin, who lost twin babies she was delivering.

Posted 10:54 p.m. Jan 5, 2009 — Updated 9:12 p.m. Mar 9, 2009

ROWLAND, N.C. — A pregnant woman died in a wreck Saturday while going to a Robeson County hospital with her pregnant cousin, who lost twin babies she was delivering.

Toni Tenille Brooks, 32, of Maxton, died in the wreck at Midway Road and N.C. Highway 130, about seven miles west of Rowland. She was three months' pregnant with her first child.

When she went into labor, Keisha Locklear, 19, of Pembroke, called Toni Brooks, her cousin. Locklear was carrying twins, a boy and girl.

"Oh, she was excited about those children," Lexie Brooks, Keisha Locklear's aunt, said. "She was looking forward to those babies and seeing them."

The pregnant women and their 17-year-old nephew, Patrick Locklear, got into a 1989 Chevrolet Suburban, driven by Toni Brooks' boyfriend, Ron Lowry, 32, of the 1200 block of Midway Road.

Lowry stopped on Midway at N.C. 130 but failed to yield to an oncoming tractor-trailer, state troopers said. The truck driver couldn't stop in time, and the 2006 Freightliner tractor hit the Suburban on the passenger's side, knocking it more than 200 feet into a cotton field.

The Suburban occupants and truck driver – Tyson Concepcion, 26, of Laurinburg – were taken to UNC Hospitals in Chapel Hill, but Toni Brooks died.

Keisha Locklear suffered broken legs and head injuries, and the loss of the twins to whose birth the whole family had been looking forward, relatives said.

"Her mother was excited; it seems like everybody was excited about it," her great-aunt, Frances Brooks, said.

Lowry and Patrick Locklear, of Maxton, suffered serious injuries; Lowry was in good condition, and the teen boy in fair condition Monday. Concepcion had minor injures.

Troopers charged Lowry with misdemeanor death by vehicle, failure to yield the right of way and driving with a revoked license.

Toni Brooks worked for Robeson County Home Health, a health-care agency.

"She was a smart girl. She helped her mother a whole lot around the house," Lexie Brooks said.

Keisha Locklear was in serious condition Monday, but family members said they fear the worst pain is ahead for her.

"It'll just hurt her when she realizes they're not there no more," Lexie Brooks said.

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