MIDDLESEX, NC — Family and friends are remembering the lives of four victims killed in Sunday night’s crash in Middlesex.
The four killed have been identified by North Carolina State Highway Patrol officials. They are Carlton Ray Brooks, 42, Garland Earp, 39, Arrington Earp, 23, and Undra Montrell Taybron, 40, of Wilson. All four died at the scene.CLICK HERE for more photos
Authorities believe that a man identified as Jimmy Pearce II, 37, of Zebulon, was traveling west in his 1989 Ford Mustang within the westbound lane of Simon Road alongside another passenger vehicle traveling west within the eastbound lane of Simon Road when he lost control, traveled onto the westbound shoulder of Simon Road and hit a crowd of pedestrians observing the cars.
Garland Earp and his nephew Arrington Earp were in the group watching the race. Their family lives just minutes from where the crash happened and says the two were well-known in the Middlesex community.
“He was very much loved in the community,” said Eva Montgomery, Garland Earp’s aunt. “All of us will miss him because everyone who knew him loved him.”
Garland Earp had worked at Stallings Brothers Inc. for about 4 years. Employees say they rarely saw him unhappy and he was always making other employees laugh.
“He was just a real wholesome guy and you don’t see that a lot of times in a young man,” said Kathy Pitts, the Office Manager at Stallings Brothers. ”That’s what we’re going to miss most and that little smile he had, cause he’s always smiling.”
Friends say the four men were close and all shared a love for cars and racing.
“Watching races is just one thing they happened to all like to do and something that maybe they shouldn’t have been doing,” said Montgomery. “But it didn’t subtract from any of who they were. They all have very good character.”
Three others were seriously injured in the crash. Roncellis Marshall, 44, of Battleboro and Larry Deans, 43, of Bailey are in fair condition at WakeMed. Ida Mae Rapa, 42, of Selma is in critical condition at the hospital.
