Driver Charged After Three People Die in NC Multi-Car Wreck

A November 13 crash on US 1 in Marston, NC, left three people dead and two hurt, while one driver was arrested and charged with multiple counts of death by vehicle.

Authorities say Hunter Andrew Austin, 25, was driving north on US 1 near Mercer Street in Marston. After allegedly failing to reduce speed, his vehicle struck another vehicle heading north. The car he hit spun out of control and crossed the median, striking a third vehicle.

Sadly this crash killed three people in both vehicles that collided across the median. Bobbie English Schaffnit, 73, and Tracey Renee Schaffnit, 51, both of Rockingham, were in the first vehicle. Holly Marie Davis-Webster, 54, of West End, was in the second vehicle, according to the North Carolina State Highway Patrol’s office in Hamlet. Two other people in the crash were injured.

Austin was charged with three felony counts of death by vehicle, two felony counts of serious injury by vehicle, and a driving while impaired traffic violation.

Unfortunately, impaired driving contributes to many car crashes and deaths in the state. In 2018 alone, North Carolina saw 11,345 alcohol-related crashes, resulting in 7,602 injuries and 411 deaths, according to the North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles. It’s important to plan properly when drinking out, and arrange for a designated driver or ride share service to pick you up.

If you know a surviving family member of a person who was injured or killed in an accident, please encourage them to contact our firm immediately. The consultation is completely free, with no out-of-pocket cost to the family to hire us.

For over 25 years the attorneys at Auger & Auger have been dedicated to protecting the rights of individuals and families that have suffered injuries or lost loved ones due to the negligence of others. We have years of experience guiding and helping our clients every step of the way to receive compensation for aspects such as medical bills, funeral costs, and other monetary losses. 

Editorial Note: At A&A we are always looking to improve the quality and safety and are saddened by the outcome of many tragic accidents across the Carolinas. The purpose of this news blog is to write about cases relevant to our industry and raise awareness about injury cases so that victims of similar incidents can educate themselves on theories of liability, the law, and how personal injury cases typically work. This article is created using publicly available information and is a secondary source. If you find any information here to be inaccurate, please notify us at [email protected], and we will make the appropriate adjustments.