Anthony Drake Villeda Obituary, Death – The North Carolina State Highway Patrol (NCSHP) has announced that no charges will be filed in connection with a fatal crash that occurred on Sunday afternoon, resulting in the death of a Hiddenite man. The victim, identified as 30-year-old Anthony Drake Villeda, was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident, which took place around 4:10 p.m. on U.S. Highway 64 in Iredell County, near Lippard Farm Road.
The collision occurred when Villeda, driving a 2005 Ford F-250, attempted to pass other westbound vehicles in a no-passing zone. In doing so, he collided head-on with a 2025 Peterbilt semi-truck that was traveling eastbound, as reported by troopers. Fortunately, a juvenile passenger who was in Villeda’s vehicle did not sustain any injuries in the crash.
The driver of the Peterbilt, 54-year-old Christopher Wesley Vowell, also from Hiddenite, was not injured in the incident.
Initial findings from the investigation indicated that careless and reckless driving were contributing factors to the collision. Despite these findings, the NCSHP decided that no charges would be filed against either driver.
In the aftermath of the crash, Highway 64 was closed for approximately two hours as emergency responders worked at the scene. Personnel from the West Iredell Fire Department, Iredell County Rescue Squad, and Iredell County EMS all responded to assist with the situation.
This tragic incident serves as a reminder of the dangers of reckless driving and the importance of adhering to traffic regulations, especially in areas designated as no-passing zones. The community is left to mourn the loss of Villeda, emphasizing the need for increased awareness and caution on the roads to prevent such heartbreaking events from occurring in the future.