Crash sends 3 to hospitals

Speed and possibly alcohol are considered as factors in a head-on collision that sent three people to the hospital with injuries Thursday evening.

The accident happened around 6 p.m. on the Christie Road in Hudson, and two of the people injured had to be airlifted to Charlotte because of the severity of the crash.

North Carolina Highway Patrol Master Trooper B.G. Williams said the 1991 Honda driven by 36-year-old Gene Vecchio of Granite Falls, was traveling east at a high rate of speed when it went left of center and struck the 2006 Chevrolet Venture van driven by Sue Stalls, 60, of Hudson. Williams indicated that Stalls' vehicle was traveling west and was in its lane when the cars collided as Vecchio's crossed into her lane rounding a curve.

Vecchio's Honda finally came to a rest about 100 feet from the crash site.

Williams indicated alcohol might be a factor and said two other motorists made statements that Vecchio had passed them on the Christie Road, a rural and winding two-lane highway with no good stretches for passing.

“There was the potential for this to be a lot worse,” Williams said. “This is an example of people needing to drive defensively. You can be doing everything right and still be the victim of someone else's carelessness, especially on rural roads with curves like this one.”

The crash happened at Clark Hill Place, between Pine Mountain Road and Deal Mill Road in a stretch of road with a posted speed limit of 45 mph.

The impact pinned Vecchio and his elementary school-aged daughter inside their mangled vehicle. Stalls also was pinned inside her van, which had a crushed front end on the driver's side.

First responders with Hudson Fire and Rescue, Sawmills Fire Department and emergency personnel with Caldwell County EMS and Lovelady Rescue arrived at the scene, and all three patients had to be extricated from the two vehicles.

Hudson Fire Capt. Norman Staines said emergency personnel used various pieces of extrication equipment to remove the patients. The top was taken off the Honda, and the steering column was removed to get Vecchio and his daughter free. The driver's door was taken off Stalls' van to get her out of the vehicle.

Caldwell EMS transported Vecchio to a landing zone set up about a quarter of a mile away, and he was taken by helicopter to Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte.

His daughter was taken by EMS to Caldwell Memorial Hospital and airlifted from there to CMC.

Caldwell Emergency Services Director Tommy Courtner said Vecchio and his daughter suffered multi-system trauma with possible head and internal injuries. Vecchio was listed in fair condition at CMC Thursday night, but his daughter's condition was not available.

Stalls was taken by Lovelady Rescue to Frye Regional Medical Center in Hickory. Courtner said she suffered multiple fractures.

Staines said all three patients were conscious and talking at the scene.

“They're very fortunate; they were lucky,” Staines said.

Williams said charges are anticipated against Vecchio pending further investigation of the accident.

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