North Carolina: Martinsville JW group van involved in serious car crash

[The Librarian]

STOKESDALE, N.C. (WDBJ7) A van from Martinsville traveling to North Carolina was involved in a crash Sunday morning.

North Carolina Highway Patrol responded to a crash on US-158 in Stokesdale, N.C., involving a brown Chevrolet blazer and a white Ford van. The passengers in the van were a group from the Kingdom Hall Jehovah’s Witnesses from Martinsville. When highway patrol arrived, US-158 was closed in both directions. The Chevrolet was in the middle of the roadway and the Ford van was on the road side overturned. 

During the investigation, it was determined that the Chevrolet was traveling northeast and crossed the centerline and collided with the Ford van which was traveling southwest. The van then went off the road to the right shoulder and overturned. 

Everyone inside both vehicles were trapped inside. There were 17 total injuries, including an injured 1-month-old and a 90-year-old. Three people were taken to High Point Regional Hospital and two were brought to Moses Cone MedCenter in High Point, N.C. 

The driver of the Chevrolet was identified as Diadra Shaffer, 35, of Stokesdale, N.C. The 1-month-old was identified as her son. Both seatbelts and child restraints were used by both passengers in the Chevrolet. Shaffer was under the influence of an impairing substance. She was charged with driving while impaired, careless and reckless driving, misdemeanor child abuse, left of center and driving while license revoked. Shaffer may face further charges.

The driver of the Ford van was identified as James Martin, 60, of Martinsville. Some passengers in the van were wearing vehicles but others were not. The van was a rental.

US-158 was closed for several hours due to a hazmat spill of gasoline from the Ford van. The road was reopened around 1 p.m.

http://www.wdbj7.com/content/news/Martinsville-church-group-van-involved-in-serious-car-crash-399234181.html