2 killed, 3 hurt in head-on crash in Burke County, troopers say
The highway patrol in Burke County is investigating a wrong-way crash where two people died Monday. Three others were injured, including two children, troopers said.
The wreck happened on Interstate 40 near the town of Rutherford College.
A 2001 Ford Ranger, driven by Jeffery Dean Wise, 60, of Valdese, was traveling the wrong way in the westbound lanes near Exit 113, troopers said. The Ranger hit a 2013 Chevrolet Tahoe in the left lane. That collision caused the Tahoe going west on I-40 to crash into a 2022 Ford F250 that was also going west.
Wise died at the scene.
The driver of the Tahoe, Kimberly Noel Gentry, 46, of Newland, was airlifted by helicopter to Atrium Health Carolinas Medical Center and was in critical condition Monday night.
Her front-seat passenger, Christopher Lee Jordan, 49, of Newland, was airlifted to Mission Hospital in Asheville, where he died. Two juveniles in the vehicle were taken by EMS to Valdese Hospital.
The driver of the F250, Kenneth Darrell Mashburn, 51, of Union Mills, was taken by EMS to Grace Hospital, with non-life-threatening injuries.
The initial investigation does not indicate impairment to be a contributing factor and no charges will be filed in this case, troopers said.
Everyone was wearing seat belts.
All occupants were restrained by seatbelts.
The road was closed for approximately two hours.
The westbound lanes reopened by 7 p.m., troopers said.
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