Community grieving after school nurse killed, son, pastor, wife, hurt in crash

CONCORD, N.C. — Concord police are investigating a Tuesday night crash that left a woman dead and three others injured, including her son.

The collision happened around 6 p.m. on state Highway 49 near Central Cabarrus High School, police said.

Investigators told Channel 9 a vehicle driven by Kelly Clevenger, of Concord, was heading south and crossed the center median into the northbound lane before crashing into another car head-on.

[ALSO READ: York County community mourns reverend, teacher involved in fatal crash]

Clevenger, 42, was pronounced dead at the scene.

(Kelly Clevenger)

Her 10-year-old son was in the car and was taken to Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte but is expected to be OK, police said.

The two people in the other vehicle, 63-year-old Gene Mullis and 59-year-old Patricia Mullis, of Monroe, were taken to CMC-Northeast. Their nephew, Chris Long, told Channel 9 the couple has serious injuries, including broken bones and internal bleeding, and will require several surgeries.

"They got to see each other for the first time since the accident and talk to each other, and they just cried their eyes out," Long said.

Relatives said Gene is the pastor at Hillcrest Baptist Church, and that the church is like a second home to the couple, who were celebrating Gene's birthday the night of the crash.

(Gene and Patricia Mullis)

The community gathered at the church on Wednesday night to pray for all of the victims in the crash and their families.

"Very scary situation and they (the Mullis) got all their faith in God that they will get through this," Long said.

Clevenger was a nurse at Concord First Assembly Academy, and the school is trying to cope with the tragic loss.

“Life... genuine Christianity, compassion, availability. She just was one of our finest,” said Frank Cantadore, who is head of the school.

Long told Channel 9 he expects his uncle to be released from the hospital first, but there's no real timeline for when that might be. As for the pastor's wife, Long said she could be in the hospital for at least two months as she completes several surgeries and rehab.

"They hold nobody at fault and they just love everyone and are sad to hear about the lady that passed as they are about themselves," Long said.

It was raining at the time but police have not said if weather contributed to the crash. Investigators said they do not suspect alcohol or drugs played a role.

No further information has been released.

Cox Media Group