Thursday, July 9, 2015

There are more charges against the driver that troopers say caused a head-on wreck that killed a grandmother, and injured her daughter and grandson.

More charges brought in crash that killed Pitt County grandmother

By: Lauren Smith

Evelyn Harper

Winterville, NC 28590

There are more charges against the driver that troopers say caused a head-on wreck that killed a grandmother, and injured her daughter and grandson.

The Highway Patrol says it happened shortly after 9:00 p.m. Tuesday on U.S. 13, between Davenport Farm and Frog Level Road.

Killed in the accident was 57-year-old Evelyn Harper of Farmville. Troopers say Harper's car was hit head-on by another vehicle driven by 21-year-old Melissa Jernigan. Jernigan was originally charged with DWI and the Highway Patrol later charged her with felony death by vehicle and two counts of felony serious injury by vehicle.

Jernigan, along with two passengers in the other vehicle were all taken to Vidant Medical Center.

Troopers say those passenger's were Harper's daughter, Joyce, and her 15-month-old grandson.

Vidant says Jernigan is in fair condition, while Joyce Harper was treated and released. There is no word on the condition of the toddler.


Previous Story

We're gathering details on a crash that closed an eastern Carolina highway Tuesday night.

Details are very few, but we do know that the wreck happened on U.S. 13 in Pitt County between Davenport Farm Road and Frog Level Road -- and shut down 13 in both directions. 

Pitt County EMS said they dispatched emergency units to the scene around 9:00 p.m.

We have a call in to Highway Patrol and will update the story as we get more information.