The crash happened on US 64 Alt. near Kingsboro Road in an area known as "Dead Man's Curve," according to the Heartsease Community Fire Chief.
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Investigators said the Saturn SUV was speeding and lost control, causing it to cross the center line and collide with a Dodge pickup truck coming the other way. The driver of the Saturn SUV was Jerry Lee Pollard, 39, of Tarboro.
Pollard was driving while impaired, according to investigators.
There were four passengers with Pollard inside the vehicle: Jeremy Pollard, 19, of Bethel; Brittany Marie Armstrong, 34, of Tarboro; Jhawaiun Drake, 19, of Rocky Mount; and Morgan Page, 30, of Tarboro.
The force of the crash caused the Saturn to flip over into a nearby field. Multiple passengers were thrown out of the Saturn during the crash.
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Drake, Armstrong and Jeremy were killed in the crash. Page is in critical condition at Vidant Pitt Hospital.
Pollard was transported to UNC Nash with injuries.
The driver of the Dodge pickup truck was Wessie Jones Jr., 61, of Rocky Mount. He was transported to UNC Nash with injuries.
Pollard has been charged with felony death by motor vehicle, driving while impaired, speeding, reckless driving, and failure to maintain lane.