North Carolina Crash Involved Distracted Driving, Fire, Death

There can be any number of reasons for a crash to end in fatality. In recent years, however, one of the biggest factors for accidents on our roadways is through neglect or carelessness via distracted driving. Radios, GPS systems, or cellphone use can cause a distraction. It only takes a moment of not keeping your eyes on the road for a tragedy to unfold.

WITN in Dublin County, North Carolina reported on a fatal crash that may have been caused by distracted driving. The accident happened on Tuesday, April 2nd. Troopers believe that the accident was directly related to cellphone use by the teen driver who died in the crash.

Authorities have identified Juan Garza, 19, from Calypso, NC as having been killed after his vehicle struck another vehicle head-on and burst into flame.

In a statement to the press, State Trooper B. Brown said that at approximately 3:15 p.m. Garza’s car was heading northbound on Bowden’s Road, located just east of Warsaw when the vehicle veered off the right-hand side of the road. Investigators believe that Garza overcorrected his vehicle, causing him to cross the center line and strike another southbound vehicle in a head-on collision.

The teen’s vehicle crashed through a guardrail and rolled off the side of Bowden Road, catching fire.

The other driver in the crash has been identified as Paige Houston of Pink Hill. She was transported to Vidant Duplin Hospital and checked out. She was later released. No charges are pending against her, according to Trooper Brown.