Driver facing slew of new charges after deadly crash that killed his son, 2 others in Edgecombe County
Authorities charged a man Sunday after a crash on Saturday killed multiple people in Edgecombe County.
While traveling eastbound on U.S. 64-Alternate near Heartsease, 39-year-old Jerry Lee Pollard lost control of his SUV and hit a pickup truck.
The crash killed Pollard's son, 19-year-old Jeremy Lee Pollard, along with 19-year-old Jhawaiun Drake and 34-year-old Brittany Marie Armstrong. All three victims were in Pollard's car.
Highway Patrol said the victims were not wearing seat belts during the crash, which ejected them from the SUV in the crash.
A passenger in the second car, 30-year-old Morgan Page, of Tarboro, was critically critically injured and airlifted to ECU Health in Greenville. She is in stable condition as of Sunday night. The driver of the second car, 61-year-old Wessie Jones Jr., of Rocky Mount, was taken to the hospital and treated for injuries.
Pollard is facing the following charges:
- Three counts of felony death by motor vehicle
- One count of felony serious injury by motor vehicle
- Driving while impaired
- Speeding
- Reckless driving
- Failure to maintain lane and left of center
Pollard lost control of his car at a turn in the road that is notorious for causing deadly crashes.
"This curve took many lives in the past years," said James Bowen, Heartsease Fire Department. "I've been chief for four years, and we've probably had a dozen here.
"The nickname out here is 'Dead Man’s Curve,' and it's known to take lives."
Pollard was charged with DWI concerning the crash, according to State Highway Patrol. Troopers said they found beer cans in Pollard's car.
Part of US 64 Alternate in the Heartsease community was closed while several agencies, including the Edgecombe County Sheriff's Office and North Carolina State Highway Patrol, investigated the incident.
Authorities said more charges are possible.
