ELLERBE — Five people — including two young children — were sent to the hospital following a two-vehicle wreck on U.S. 73 between Ellerbe and Ex-Way Monday afternoon.

A family of four was travelling west on N.C. 73 towards Mount Gilead in a gray GMC Yukon when a driver in a silver Hundai Sonata apparently ran a stop sign at the intersection where Cartledge Creek Road turns into Everett Chappell Road, causing the Yukon to roll onto its roof and the Sonata to run up an embankment into the woods, according to Trooper Shane Baldwin with the N.C. Highway Patrol.

The driver of the Yukon was Ashley Davis of Ellerbe, who was riding with her husband, Rusty, and their twin children, Gunner and Gracie, both first-graders. Melissa Powley, Ashley Davis’ cousin and neighbor, said the children were “shaken up” following the wreck.

The driver of the Sonata was Jessica Martin, whose license has a Wilmington address, Baldwin said.

All five involved in the wreck were taken to FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital. First responders requested helicopter evacuation for the victims but a threatening thunderstorm forced the helicopters to cancel, according to Bryan Cloninger, chief of the Ellerbe Rescue Squad.

Other responding agencies were FirstHealth EMS, Mountain Creek Fire Department and the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office.

Baldwin said the investigation is ongoing.

The Daily Journal will update this story as more information becomes available.

Reach Gavin Stone at 910-817-2674 or [email protected].

Gavin Stone | Daily Journal
Trooper Shane Baldwin examines a wreck on N.C. 73 near the intersection where Cartledge Creek Road becomes Everett Chappelle Road late Monday afternoon. Approaching storms kept medical helicopters from assisting. See page 6A for more.
https://www.yourdailyjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/web1_IMG_0601-1.jpgGavin Stone | Daily Journal
Trooper Shane Baldwin examines a wreck on N.C. 73 near the intersection where Cartledge Creek Road becomes Everett Chappelle Road late Monday afternoon. Approaching storms kept medical helicopters from assisting. See page 6A for more.

By Gavin Stone

Staff Writer