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Murphy – A local resident has been charged in the deaths of two brothers.
Matthew Trey Bateman, 21, is charged with two counts of felony death by vehicle as a result of a crash that happened last summer.
Police say Bateman lost control of his 1999 Toyota Tacoma while traveling on N.C. 294 around 10 p.m. June 25. Officials say the truck traveled across lanes several times before leaving the roadway, striking a fence and several trees before colliding with a telephone pole.
Police found the truck upside down. Two passengers – identified as Austin Hawkins, 18, and Avery Hawkins, 16 – were pronounced dead at the scene.
On March 8, a Cherokee County grand jury indicted Bateman, who was served with the indictment last week. He has since been released from custody after posting a $25,000 secured bond.
Court documents say impaired driving caused the crash.