Crash victims identified

The names of the men seriously injured in a two-vehicle accident Wednesday on Mission Road near Spartan Drive have been released.

Roy Cosby, 64, of 4093 Beach Road, Hudson, was driving a white 1998 Chevrolet Cavalier when he crossed the center line and collided with a red 1994 Mazda driven by Alexander Scearce, 46, of 314 Rustic Place, Lenoir, at approximately 7:30 p.m. Scearce's son, Peter, 27, also was riding in the Mazda.

The two cars came to a rest on opposite sides of the road, a good distance apart after the collision.

Alexander Scearce was airlifted to Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte, and Cosby was airlifted to Johnson City Medical Center in Tennessee. North Carolina Highway Trooper B.N. Hyatt said he was unaware of the type of injuries both drivers sustained, but did know they were in stable condition. Both were pinned inside their vehicles and had to be extricated by rescue personnel at the scene.

Peter Scearce was transported to Frye Regional Medical Center in Hickory, where he was treated and released.

Both of the choppers landed in the dirt parking lot above Spartan Stadium on the campus of South Caldwell High School. As soon as Med Center Air took off toward Carolinas Medical Center, Wings from Johnson City, Tenn., landed.

Hyatt said both drivers were going approximately 45 mph when they collided headlight to headlight, creating an impact of nearly 90 mph. He said neither driver was speeding, and he doesn't think that alcohol factored into the crash.

The cause of the wreck is still under investigation, and charges are pending against Cosby. Hyatt said he still hadn't spoken to either driver Thursday evening.

Hyatt said Mission Road was shut down for approximately an hour while crews worked to extricate the men.

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