An Ashe County man was tragically killed in a vehicle accident when his classic truck plunged down an embankment and overturned, North Carolina State Highway Patrol reported. The incident, which involved a 1965 Chevrolet truck, occurred on Clint Gilley Road near Heavenly Mountain View at approximately 3 p.m. last Friday.
The driver, identified as John Charles Shoemake of Warrensville, was pronounced dead at the scene. According to WCNC, Shoemake had been attempting to reverse the gravel-packed vehicle down the mountain road prior to losing control and careening off the right side. This led to the truck sliding down an embankment and coming to rest upside down on Clint Gilley Road.
Local authorities claim that neither speed nor alcohol were contributing factors in the crash. However, they did note that Shoemake was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the incident. The road was subsequently closed for approximately two hours while the site was cleared and an investigation was conducted, as documented by QC News.
Troopers emphasize that precautionary measures however simple, can often be decisive in mitigating the outcomes of vehicular accidents. The NC State Highway Patrol has yet to release further details regarding the specific cause of this incident.
