PEMBROKE, NC (WBTW) – North Carolina officials say Robeson County leads the state in vehicle-related deaths.
The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) says they want to change that. Thursday morning representatives statewide came joined for the first ‘NC Vision Zero’ committee task force meeting. A committee of local and state leaders to help make roads in the county safer.

NC Highway Patrol says in the last week five people have died in car crashes. One of those deaths was 13- year- old Brianna Scott.

Monday morning while on the way to school two families lives changed in an instant.

North Carolina Highway Patrolman CD Lowery says the crash happened around 7:30 a.m. Monday on Deep Branch Road when two families were on their way to different schools. 

Troopers say 33-year-old Jessica Oxendine was driving to Pembroke Middle School with two children in the car when an oncoming vehicle hit her car head-on. Oxendine and her 13-year-old daughter, Brianna Scott, both of Maxton, were killed in the crash. A younger child in the backseat of the vehicle was okay, report troopers.

The driver of the vehicle that crashed into Oxendine’s car was traveling with northwest on Deep Branch Road when he lost control and ran off the right side of the road. The driver overcorrected, crossed the center line and smashed into Oxendine’s vehicle.

The driver who crossed the center line is Rudolph Freeman. Freeman was on his way to Purnell Swett High School with his three daughters in the car, all of whom were taken to the hospital, confirms Lowery. 

Since then, the Robeson County School District brought in extra counselors to help students grieve. Thursday, the Pembroke Middle School sign says ‘In Loving Memory of Brianna Scott.’
“This accident impacted a lot of families,” said Tasha Oxendine, Robeson County Public Schools Public Relations Officer. “They’ve been talking with the students throughout the week. There’s been a lot of conversation with the students to give them the opportunity to talk about their feelings.”


Grandy Hunt, NCDOT at-large member for Rural Transportation has followed the trends for years and created the ‘NC Vision Zero’ task force.
“It’s our family, friends, neighbors. It’s us… it’s folks that we know. It’s not strangers,” explained Hunt.
According to NCDOT in the last five years, 198 people died in car crashes and another 160 had severe injuries.
Top three reasons include:

-Lane change/run off the road

-No seat belt

-Alcohol


State and local leaders brainstormed ways to promote safer driving habits.
More funding for the local hospital was mentioned during the meeting.

When people get into a crash, they are taken to the Southeastern Health Medical Center. Sonja Hilburn the Emergency Services Director says the hospital is not at the trauma level. However, the high numbers of crashes mean nurses and doctors must be certified to take care of patients until they can go to another hospital.

“These certifications can be very costly for my nurses, paramedics, and EMTs,” said Hilburn. “It’s very important that we get the funding that we need to get everyone trained. Right now we’ve been limited to 5-10 a year.”

Funding for the hospital and more state troopers were two hot topics of discussion today.

Sgt. Philip Collins, Robeson County Sergeant of the Highway Patrol says five more state troopers and a supervisor would help step up visual presence.

The group hopes to get the messages of safe driving; like wear your seat belt or limits distractions to younger students in hopes of making a ‘cultural’ change.
“Starting it with our primary school kids all the way up through high school into college kids. That’s where the most change is going to come from saying this is a problem here is a solution,” said Sgt. Collins.

NCDOT plans to meet again with an even larger group of church leaders, policymakers, and 1st responders later this year. They also plan to look for grants to help fund a safe driving campaign.