ZEBULON, N.C. – A mother was killed and her husband and daughter were injured in a serious crash on U.S. Route 64 westbound near Debnam Road in Zebulon Monday morning, Lt. Jeff Gordon with the North Carolina State Highway Patrol said.
The crash happened around 6 a.m. on U.S. 64 near the 64/U.S. Route 264 merge and involved two vehicles, officials said.
The mother has been identified as Judy Marie Claybourne, 53, of Zebulon.
Claybourne’s husband, who has not been identified, told authorities that he and his daughter were asleep in their 2008 Pontiac Torrent when the crash happened.
According to authorities, the Pontiac was slowing down or stopping when a 2002 GMC Envoy driven by Erik Christian Hicks, 42, of Knightdale, slammed into the back of the vehicle. The collision sent the Pontiac careening off the right side of the road and into the woods where it flipped over and came to a rest in the wood line.
The husband and daughter were transported to WakeMed and are in critical condition, authorities said.
Claybourne was declared dead at the scene.
At least five emergency crews responded to the scene.
Hicks was transported to WakeMed with non-life threatening injuries.
Hicks will be charged with failure to reduce speed, failure to wear a seat belt, and misdemeanor death by motor vehicle, authorities said.
Authorities said traffic and weather do not appear to be factors in the crash, but inattention by Hicks may be the cause.
The wreck is currently under investigation.
