UNION COUNTY, N.C. - A major highway in Union County was closed for hours after three people were killed in a single-car crash late Thursday night.
Deputies and state troopers said the crash happened just before 10:30 p.m. on Highway 601 at Sikes Mill Road, just north of Monroe.
Witnesses told troopers that a Volkswagen Jetta drifted across the center line, hit a drainage ditch and overturned before striking a utility pole and a tree.
“It was catastrophic,” said Trooper Ray Pierce, with the North Carolina Highway Patrol. “Unfortunately, the way the vehicle left the roadway, it overturned and made impact with a power pole.”
Troopers said the driver, Gabriel Castro, 24, and two female passengers, Diana Flores, 23, and Rosa Isela Flores, 16, were killed on impact in the crash.
Officials said that neither Castro nor Flores was wearing a seat belt and that speed was involved in the crash.
“Speed appears to be an early determining factor in this,” Pierce said.
Authorities said Castro was driving with a suspended license, and records show he was charged in October with speeding to elude arrest and reckless driving. He was supposed to appear in court Friday.
Officials said the 16-year-old was enrolled in Forest Hills High School last year.
The road was reopened overnight and neighbors are now warning other drivers to slow down and put safety first.
“I know the speed limit here is 65, but I think, (on) average, people are doing 70, 80 mph coming through here," resident Tony Little said. “It’s definitely dangerous.”
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| Front seat passenger 23-year-old Diana Laura Romero Flores of Monroe died in the high-speed crash |
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UNION COUNTY, NC (WBTV) -
Two out of the three people who were killed when the vehicle they were in overturned in Union County Thursday night have been identified.
The deadly crash happened at the intersection of US-601 and Sikes Mill Road. The driver, identified as 24-year-old Gabriel Martinez Castro, was driving south on US-601 and heading towards Monroe when the wreck happened, troopers say.
Troopers said Castro and 23-year-old Diana Laura Romero were killed in the wreck. Highway Patrol said the victims were speeding when they ran off the road, overturned, struck a tree then crashed into a utility pole.
The highway was shut down for some time while crews were on scene investigating.
Troopers have not identified the second woman who was killed in the wreck.
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UNION COUNTY, N.C. – A major highway in Union County was shut down after three people were killed in a crash Thursday night.
According to the Union County Sheriff’s Office, emergency crews responded to a crash around 9:30 p.m. at the intersection of U.S. 601 and Sikes Mill Road. NC Highway Patrol was also called to the scene to assist Union County deputies.
Witnessed told troopers a 2003 Volkswagen Jetta was speeding, crossed the center line, went off the road, hit a ditch and a pole.
All three of the victims have been identified: the driver, 24-year-old Gabriel Martinez Castro of Monroe and front seat passenger 23-year-old Diana Laura Romero Flores of Monroe. The third victim was identified as 16-year-old Rosa Isela Flores of Monroe. She was not wearing a seatbelt, police said.
Troopers said Castro was not wearing a seatbelt and was driving with a suspended license. Flores was wearing a seatbelt, according to the highway patrol.
Here is the gofuckme link for the dead woman, Diana Laura Romero Flores.
https://www.gofundme.com/diana-romero-flores-funeral
Today our family Flores-Gonzalez, is asking for help to collect money to be able to send Diana Laura Romero Flores body to Mexico. Anything will be a great help to us. Diana passed away Thursday, November 16, 2017 in a car accident. Thank you and may God bless you and everyone helping out. Our family will be very grateful.