A tragic event unfolded on a Burke County road last night when 29-year-old Japheth Jesse Obanner was struck and killed by a vehicle. The incident, as reported by QC News, took place around 6:08 p.m. on US 70 near Snowhill Church Road.
According to details provided by the North Carolina State Highway Patrol and cited by WCNC, a 2001 Ford F-550, operated by Joan Marie Carter, 75, from South Dakota, was traveling eastbound when it collided with Obanner, who was reportedly in the middle of the roadway at the time of the crash. Carter did not sustain injuries in the accident.
The circumstances around the crash were further clarified with officials noting that the pedestrian was wearing dark clothing in an unlit part of the roadway and is believed to have been impaired. This detail is corroborated by WSOCTV, which also highlighted that no charges would be filed in the case, with the investigation concluding that impairment and walking in the roadway were contributing factors to the accident.
The roadway where the incident occurred closed for approximately two hours as troopers investigated the scene. Despite the tragic outcome, authorities have determined not to file charges against the driver, a decision repeated across reports from various outlets.
