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Two seriously hurt in accident involving youth from Indiana
By Carey Phillips
Two people were seriously injured and 10 others were treated for minor injuries following a two-vehicle accident just after midnight Friday on U.S. 441 near Gateway.
A 1998 van was carrying members of the Scott County YMCA Leadership Group from Scottsburg, Ind., when the wreck occurred around 12:10 a.m. Saturday (July 29).
Brent Allan Calloway, 23, was driving the northbound van and attempted to make a left turn into the Budget Motel parking lot, about three-tenths of a mile from the U.S. 74 intersection, according to Trooper Steve Allred of the N.C. Highway Patrol.
Calloway turned in front of a southbound Chevrolet S-10 Blazer driven by Julie Fortner Bradley, 46, of Whittier, Allred said. The Blazer struck the van in the passenger side.
Bradley was airlifted to the University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville. She was listed in “medically stable” condition Monday afternoon, according to a hospital spokesman.
“Her injuries are serious but not life-threatening,” Allred said.
The most seriously injured van passenger was 17-year-old Steven Riley. He was airlifted to Mission Hospitals in Asheville. No condition report was available Monday afternoon although he remained a patient.
Riley was sitting in the second row on the passenger side, which was where the van was hit, Allred said. The teen sustained a broken leg and other injuries, the trooper said.
Bradley and Riley were pinned in their vehicles and had to be extricated by rescue personnel.
Bradley was charged with driving while impaired, and Calloway was charged with reckless driving, according to Allred.
The van’s nine other passengers, male and females who ranged in age from 13-19, were treated and released at Harris Regional Hospital, Allred said. They were transported in a WestCare van. Calloway was also checked out at the hospital, the trooper said.
The group was returning from a trip to Panama City, Fla., and was looking for a place to spend the night, Allred said. Another van carrying members of the group had already turned into the motel parking lot when the accident occurred.
Allred said he received assistance at the scene from numerous agencies including the Jackson County Rescue Squad, WestCare EMS, Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, Cherokee Police Department, Cherokee Tribal EMS and Qualla Fire Department.
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