Richard Wayne EarpObituary, Death – A tragic accident in Wilkes County on Friday afternoon resulted in the death of one man and severe injuries to a woman, as reported by the North Carolina State Highway Patrol. Officers were called to the scene of the collision at 12:40 p.m., which occurred on NC 16 near Knollwood Drive.
Upon arrival, authorities discovered that a 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee had crossed the center line while heading south and collided head-on with a northbound 2023 Ford Explorer. The driver of the Jeep, 71-year-old Richard Wayne Earp, was pronounced dead at the scene due to his injuries. Meanwhile, the Ford Explorer’s driver, 58-year-old Rebecca McKinney Hamrick from Asheville, was rushed to Atrium Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, where she was treated for life-threatening injuries.
According to the Highway Patrol’s initial investigation, neither speeding nor impairment were considered contributing factors to the crash. As authorities continue to gather information, the focus remains on understanding the circumstances that led to this unfortunate incident.