Blowing Rock: On Sunday, February 8th at approximately 2:33 p.m., the North Carolina State Highway Patrol responded to and investigated a fatal collision on US 321, in Caldwell County. A 2007 Chevrolet passenger car was traveling North on US 321 and crossed the center line. The Chevrolet then drove off the roadway and collided with a guardrail causing it to then overturn.
The driver of the Chevrolet Erwin S. Collins, 64, of Lenoir succumbed to his injuries at the scene of the collision. He was not wearing his seatbelt.
The front seat passenger, Christina Collins, of Lenoir was flown to Johnson City Medical center in Tennessee with serious injuries.
A back seat passenger was transported to Watauga medical center with non-life threatening injuries.
The initial investigation concluded speed or impairing substances were not contributing factors in the collision.