Wilbar – On Wednesday, October 22, at approximately 7:00 a.m., the NC State Highway Patrol responded to and investigated a fatal collision in Wilkes County on NC 16 near Grindstone Lane. A 2018 Honda CR-V traveling north on NC 16 crossed the centerline and collided head-on with a southbound 2019 Subaru Forester.
The driver of the Honda, Kelly Jordan Holleman, 53, of North Wilkesboro, succumbed to her injuries at the scene. She was not wearing a seatbelt. Holleman was a media coordinator and teacher at Ashe County Middle School in West Jefferson. Reports indicate she was on her way to school.
The driver of the Subaru, Laurie Christine UK, 61, of West Jefferson, was critically injured and transported by medical helicopter to Atrium Wake-Forest Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem.
The investigation does not indicate impairment or speed to be contributing factors in the collision. NC 16 was closed in the area for approximately three hours during the on-scene investigation. No charges will be filed in this case.