A 25-year-old man from Statesville was tragically killed in an ATV accident earlier this morning in Iredell County, as reported by multiple sources. The North Carolina State Highway Patrol responded to the scene around 1:30 a.m. on Saw Mills Road near Union Grove Road, where they discovered that Seth Allen Paynter had lost control of his 2019 Polaris RZR, causing the vehicle to cross the center line, veer off the road, and overturn. Paynter was ejected from the ATV during the crash and was found dead at the scene.
According to QCNews, Paynter was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the incident—a detail that the Highway Patrol emphasized. The preliminary investigation has led authorities to also believe that alcohol might have indirectly contributed to cause the accident. The authorities closed Saw Mills Road for approximately two hours to conduct their on-scene investigation, causing temporary traffic disruption in the area.
A separate report by WCCB Charlotte reiterated the same details about the crash and Paynter's lack of seatbelt usage. The report also mentioned that Paynter's ejection from the vehicle after it overturned ultimately led to his death.
Adding to the details gathered from the scene, WCNC noted that the Highway Patrol is still investigating the incident but the initial findings point strongly towards alcohol playing a role.
