OAK RIDGE, N.C. — The North Carolina State Highway Patrol has charged an 18-year-old with driving while impaired after a deadly wreck on Willard Road near Highway 150 in Oak Ridge just before 7 p.m. Friday.
Troopers said Jacob Stevens, of Greensboro, was driving a pickup truck when he veered off the road and hit a mailbox and trashcan. Stevens lost control and the pickup crossed the center line before it rolled over and hit a power pole, according to troopers.
Troopers said a passenger in the truck, 19-year-old Jefferey Robert Jones of High Point, died at the scene.
Zach Porter Williamson, 19, of Greensboro, Tavis Derek Williamson,19, of Kernersville, and Stevens were taken to Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center. They all had serious injuries from the wreck, according to the highway patrol.
Zach later died, highway patrol said Saturday.
Troopers charged Stevens with misdemeanor death by motor vehicle, driving while impaired, provisional driving while impaired, underage consumption and reckless driving, two counts of felony death by motor vehicle, and one count of felony serious injury by motor vehicle, according to highway patrol.
A GoFundMe fundraiser has been created for a scholarship in honor of Jefferey Jones.
“Jeff was uniquely special, loving, driven, and a proud American, destined for great things,” a statement from the GoFundMe page read. “Let’s join together to give as much as we can.”
Fundraiser organizer Kory Burgess said the Jones family is still trying to take one day at a time.
“There will be talks about the scholarship in the weeks to come,” Burgess said.