Texting cited in accident that killed Chocowinity teen

BEAUFORT COUNTY, N.C.- The Highway Patrol says distracted driving led to a wreck that killed a high school senior late yesterday afternoon.  It happened on Chandler Rd. in Beaufort County when a car crossed the center line and collided with a logging truck.  The driver, 18-yr.-old Sarah Edwards of Chocowinity was a senior at Southside High School in Washington. 

This is all that's left of Sarah Edwards' Honda Accord.

“It was a pretty, pretty bad wreck,” said Sgt. Kevin Respass, NC Highway Patrol. 

Her car slammed into the rear tires of a loaded logging truck, she died on impact. 

Troopers say at 3:42 Edwards looked at her cell phone to read a text message. She drifted across the center line, and less than one minute later, the first 911 call was made.

Respass says Edwards was wearing her seatbelt and going the speed limit.  He says alcohol was not involved.  Still, he says there's no room for error on narrow two lane roads like this one. 

“If you're distracted for any reason and you drift and you meet one of those trucks, bad wrecks can happen,” said Respass. 

He says the truck driver tried turning off the road but it was already too late.  Respass says cars are no match for 40 ton tractor trailers.

“Pretty much anytime you come up against a truck like that, you're not going to win,” said Respass. 

Fewer than 450 students attend Southside High School where Edwards would have graduated in the spring.

“We never cease to be amazed,” said Sarah Hodges, Public Information Officer for Beaufort County Schools.  “Our students and our staff pull together and pull each other through it and we see just what amazing people we have in our school system.”

Administrators say in the small, tight-knit community, Edwards made a big impression.  Her principal in particular, had a heart-warming memory of the young student.

“He described her as an ideal student, a wonderful, quiet young lady who had a smile for everybody,” said Hodges.  “And that smile was spoken a lot about today.”

The Highway Patrol says the logging truck did not contribute to the accident.  Southside high school had a team of counselors on staff today for students and faculty.  The school system sent letters home to parents this afternoon, explaining their loss. 

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BEAUFORT COUNTY, N.C. - The Highway Patrol says Sarah Edwards was using her cell phone at the time of the accident that claimed her life.

They've cited "texting" as a contributing factor in the cause of her death.

It happened on Chandler Road Beaufort County Wednesday afternoon just before 4 P.M.

Highway Patrol identified the victim as Sarah Edwards of Chocowinity. Troopers say Edwards' Honda Accord collided with a log truck after driving left of center, hitting the rear of a log truck's trailer.  The vehicles were headed in opposite directions.

There's no information on how the accident happened.  Troopers say Edwards did have her seatbelt on at the time of the accident.

The driver of the tractor trailer was not hurt.

Edwards is listed as a senior at Southside High School in Chocowinity.  Counselors were at the school this morning.