Doctors 'cautiously optimistic' about Rep. Womble's recovery

Doctors are "cautiously optimistic" about the recovery of State Rep. Larry Womble (D-Forsyth), who was critically injured in a head-on crash Friday night, according to a spokeswoman for the Womble family.

Womble underwent surgery Sunday morning, another procedure later in the day and was resting, said spokeswoman Tanya Wiley. His family and friends are breathing a sigh of relief, she said.

He was hospitalized in critical condition. The other driver, David Allen Carmichael, 54, of 2767 Reynolds Park Road, died at the scene, Winston-Salem police said.

The crash happened around 11 p.m. on Reynolds Park Road. Police have not determined who was at fault.

Womble has represented Forsyth County in the General Assembly since 1995. Before that, the retired teacher and principal served on the Winston-Salem Board of Aldermen from 1981 to 1993. 

During his nine terms in the General Assembly, Womble has advocated for compensation for victims of the state's eugenics program during the 20th century.

He was the primary sponsor of the 2009 Racial Justice Act, which allowed death row inmates to use racial statistics to show bias in sentencing. 

The North Carolina State Senate voted to repeal that law just last week.