Denver –On Saturday, July 5, at approximately 2:40 p.m., the NC State Highway Patrol responded to and investigated a fatal collision in Lincoln County on Beth Haven Church Road near Blue Sky Drive. A 2008 Cadillac Escalade traveling south on Beth Haven Church Road crossed the centerline and collided head-on with a northbound 2014 Nissan Frontier.
The driver of the Escalade, Jomar Lamont Talbert II, 18, of Iron Station, was transported to an area hospital with minor injuries.
The driver of the Frontier, Shelia Honeycutt Ballard, 73, of Catawba, succumbed to her injuries at the scene. She was not wearing a seatbelt.
The initial investigation indicates speed and impairment were not contributing factors in the collision. Charges are pending upon completion of the ongoing investigation and consultation with the Lincoln County District Attorney’s office. During the on-scene investigation, the roadway was closed in the area for approximately one hour.