Drexel– On Sunday, March 17, at approximately 3:50 a.m., the NC State Highway Patrol responded to and investigated a fatal collision in Burke County on NC 114 near Cook Road. A 2000 Buick Century was traveling north on NC 114, the driver lost control, drove off the right side of the road, and struck two power poles.
The driver of the Buick, Jessie Johnson Wilkerson, 56, of Morganton, was critically injured and transported by medical helicopter to Mission Hospital in Asheville, where she succumbed to her injuries. She was not restrained by a seatbelt.
The initial investigation indicates excessive speed to be the contributing factor in the collision. During the on-scene investigation, the roadway was closed in the area for several hours.