1965 — Sep 10, speeding car crosses median (blowout?) hits another near Lincolnton, NC–9

–9 Biloxi Daily Herald, MS. “Nine Die in Two-Car Crash.” 9-11-1965, p. 1.
–9 UPI. “Lincoln Wreck Kills Nine Persons.” Statesville Record & Landmark, NC. 9-11-1965, 1.

Narrative Information

Sep 11, UPI: “Lincolnton (UPI) – Two speeding cars, one of them skidding crazily out of control, collided near here late last night, killing nine persons in one of the worst traffic accidents in North Carolina history. Authorities said one of the vehicles rammed into the other broadside under a full moon and the impact draped one around the other like a horseshoe. Bodies were strewn over the highway, some hung lifelessly from the car doors, and others remained trapped in the twisted wreckages. Witnesses reported hearing moans and cries of pain from the injured, who were to die within a few hours.

“Highway patrolman Harold Camp said a car carrying six of the victims…was traveling at a high rate of speed on state route 27 when it went out of control, possibly from a blown tire. The car began weaving from side to side, then cut quickly across the center median, ran off the opposite shoulder and swung sharply back across the highway. At that point, a 1956 station wagon carrying a family of three barreled into the side of the other car. Camp said five of the victims were killed instantly and the other four died several hours later in Lincolnton and Gastonia hospitals.

“The victims were identified as Ernest Lee Self, 49, of Rt. 2, Lawndale, his wife, Laura Minnie Self, 49, and their 6-year-old son, Mike, all of whom were in one car. The victims in the other car were Ray Field Farley, 21; Benny White, 14; Genie White, 19; Paul Bryant, 18; Brenda Farley, 17, all of Rt. 2, Vale, and Clemmer Banks, 23, of Rt. 1, Cherryville.” (UPI. “Lincoln Wreck Kills Nine Persons.” Statesville Record & Landmark, NC. 9-11-1965, 1.)

Sources

Biloxi Daily Herald, MS. “Nine Die in Two-Car Crash.” 9-11-1965, p. 1. Accessed 1-1-2014 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=184538601&sterm

UPI (United Press International). “Lincoln Wreck Kills Nine Persons.” Statesville Record & Landmark, NC. 9-11-1965, p. 1. Accessed 5-23-2022 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/statesville-record-and-landmark-sep-11-1965-p-1/