Murphy – Three people were transported to area hospitals in serious condition following a two-vehicle accident on Andrew Jackson Highway just east of Bulldog Drive on Thursday.
About 1:07 p.m. Thursday, a westbound sport utility vehicle crossed into the eastbound lane for unknown reasons and collided head-on with a minivan at high speed. All three involved were injured and taken by ambulance to area hospitals. The scene was cleared at about 2:50 p.m., after slowing traffic in both directions trough the duration of the incident.
A female passenger in the minivan was not wearing her seat belt and ended up trapped under the vehicle’s dashboard. Volunteer firefighters spent about 30 minutes cutting her free with the Jaws of Life. The two occupants of the minivan were reportedly tourists from Mississippi heading to Bryson City.
A N.C. Highway Patrol spokesman at the scene urged drivers to always wear their seat belts. He cited the accident and the extent of injuries sustained by the entrapped victim as an example of why.
The accident remains under investigation by the Highway Patrol. Responding agencies included the Murphy Volunteer Fire Department, Cherokee County Emergency Medical Services and Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office.