Mom driving with kids dies in crash. Wintry conditions may have played role, NC cops say

A 30-year-old mother driving with her two kids died when her car ran off a North Carolina road, officials said.

Road conditions after a recent winter storm may have played a role in the Jan. 19 crash, according to the N.C. State Highway Patrol.

Christina Marie Durham was driving a Nissan Sentra in an icy area when the car reportedly hit a ditch and flipped over. She wasn’t wearing a seat belt and was thrown from the car, state troopers said in a news release.

Officials said the crash happened at about 6:15 p.m. on Blumenthal Road in Greensboro. Durham died at the scene.

Durham’s two children, who were riding in the car when it crashed, survived. They were taken to nearby Moses H. Cone Memorial Hospital with minor injuries, officials said.

Brian Durham, the father of the two kids, told WXII their mom was generous and caring.

“I was devastated,” he said, according to the TV station. “I can’t believe it really happened. I’m still kind-of in denial. It’s a tremendous loss — especially for the boys. It’s just very, very sad.”

Priscilla Bowlen, a childhood friend, told WFMY she thinks Christina Durham could have survived if she was buckled up.

“She just had such a good energy to people that, you know, she could make anybody laugh,” Bowlen said. “She was always there for me, she always had my back, I could always depend on her and call her anytime I needed. And that’s just something that you don’t find in a lot of people.”

Facebook users believed to be Bowlen and Brian Durham didn’t immediately respond to McClatchy News’ requests for comment on Jan. 21.

The weekend before the crash, a storm brought freezing rain, snow and other winter weather to parts of North Carolina. Forecasters continued to warn drivers about the potential for black ice throughout the week as slick roads remain a threat in some areas this weekend.

While the Blumenthal Road area was icy at the time of the deadly wreck, Master Trooper Brian K. Martin in an email said highway patrol continues to investigate other aspects.

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