Tragedy struck Monday morning in Lincoln County, North Carolina, following a fatal traffic collision involving a pickup truck and a van. The NC State Highway Patrol reported that the incident occurred around 7:20 a.m. at the intersection of NC 18 and NC 10.
Authorities say Jose Moreno, 31, of Dobson, failed to stop at the stop sign at NC 18, leading to the mortal consequences that his pickup truck struck a van driven by 59-year-old Barry Mckee of Lawndale. Pronounced dead at the scene, the loss of McKee has posed fresh questions about traffic safety in the area.
Moreno, who is also referred to as Jose Vargas Moreno in reports, was arrested and charged with multiple offenses including misdemeanor death by vehicle and operating a vehicle with no license. As per WBTV, officials have set his bond at $15,000.
Amidst the investigation, Jose Vargas, as identified by local news sources, claimed that brake failure was to blame for the inability to stop, stating, "I tried to stop, I don't know. The brakes weren't working. The brakes weren't working properly. I tried to avoid him and he hit me head on, like from the front." Nevertheless, the accident adds to a history of traffic incidents in the region, which has seen numerous, including fatal, accidents in the past.
In addition to the tragic death of Mckee, it was confirmed that neither impairment nor speed were factors in the collision, and no passengers in the truck sustained injuries during the incident. The ongoing investigation is expected to include an inspection of the truck's brakes to determine the exact cause of Vargas’s failure to stop at the sign. The community now waits for more answers as they grapple with the consequences of a moment's neglect on the road.
