Two children were killed and a third was critically injured in a single-vehicle crash late Wednesday on Cedar Creek Road near Fields Road in Fayetteville, officials said. Emergency crews arrived to find a white sedan mangled against a tree, and the roadway stayed closed for hours while investigators worked the scene. In the wake of the wreck, city leaders and safety advocates are urging parents and caregivers to double-check car-seat fit and use free inspection services already available in the city.
Crash Investigation Underway
Fayetteville police and state troopers responded just before 11 p.m.; two children were pronounced dead at the scene and a third was taken to Cape Fear Valley Medical Center in critical condition, according to WRAL. Troopers say the vehicle left the roadway and struck a tree, and detectives with the traffic unit are reconstructing the collision. Officials have not released the names of those involved while family notifications are completed.
Free Car-Seat Checks At Three Stations
The Fayetteville Fire Department, working with Safe Kids of Cumberland County, offers permanent car-seat checking stations at three firehouses, with Monday through Saturday inspection hours from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., according to the City of Fayetteville. Certified technicians will inspect and, when possible, install existing seats, although firefighters do not distribute free car seats. Families who need help getting a seat can ask about assistance programs. Residents are encouraged to check the city page for specific station locations and contact numbers before heading over.
Experts: Tight Harnesses, Booster Timing
Clinicians and child-safety technicians say the way a child is buckled in can be the difference between life and death. “Properly restraining a child can save a life,” RN Stacey Koonce said, and Mary Anne Murphy with the fire department warned that caregivers “should not be able to pinch the fabric” of a harness if it is truly snug, both speaking to ABC11. State troopers have said none of the children involved in the crash were properly restrained, and investigators are looking at speed and other possible contributing factors in the collision.
Local Support And National Context
The Cape Fear Valley Health Foundation provides car seats, booster seats and infant carriers to eligible families, the foundation's director told ABC11. Nationally, seat belts and car seats substantially reduce the risk of serious crash-related injuries and deaths, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. City and health partners say technician-run checks, combined with distribution programs, are intended to drive down preventable injuries among local children.
Quick Checks Parents Can Do Now
Parents are urged to try a quick “pinch test” after buckling a child: if you can pinch the harness webbing at the shoulder, it is too loose, and the chest clip should sit at armpit level, per guidance from Consumer Reports. Anyone with questions can bring the car seat and vehicle owner's manual to a certified Child Passenger Safety Technician at a permanent station or community check event so they can confirm installation and fit. Because crews may be out responding to emergencies, families are encouraged to call ahead to make sure a technician will be available.
