1 critically hurt after driver falls asleep, hits SUV head-on in Alexander County, troopers say

ALEXANDER COUNTY, N.C. — A driver fell asleep behind the wheel Monday morning on a highway in Alexander County before slamming into an SUV, critically injuring the other driver, troopers said.

North Carolina Highway Patrol responded to the collision on Highway 16 near the intersection of Silas Deal Road, just north of Taylorsville.

A 2018 Mazda 6 was traveling north on Highway 16, crossed the centerline, ran off the road, struck a guardrail and collided head-on with a 2019 Toyota Rav4 going south. 

According to troopers, the driver of the Mazda, Corey Burkhart, 24, of Wilkesboro, fell asleep on his way home from work.

The impact caused the engine to come out of the Mazda before it caught fire.

Burkhart managed to escape the burning car and had minor injuries.

It took firefighters 30 minutes to free the driver in the SUV. Teresa Combs, 60, of Wilkesboro, was critically injured and flown to a hospital.

The road was closed for about three hours.

Troopers said it was the seatbelts being worn by both drivers that saved their lives.

”Both vehicles drivers had their seatbelts on, thank goodness. This was a violent collision. This is the highway fatalities that have been here in North Carolina. Here in North Carolina, we’ve noticed a major trend with seatbelts not being worn in fatalities,” said Sgt. Daniel Hall.

Channel 9′s Dave Faherty learned there were more than 1,700 fatalities in North Carolina just in 2021. That’s the highest number since 1973 and 45% higher than 10 years ago.

Charges are pending.

Check back with wsoctv.com for updates.

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