Update: Highway 109 fatal crash and safety measures

The North Carolina State Highway Patrol has released the identities of some of the people involved in a crash that killed three on Highway 109 in Davidson County. Two children and one adult died on January 6th. Brittany Carter (mother), Ayden and Lincoln Palmer (sons) were killed in the head-on collision.

The crash is not the first fatality on this stretch of road. Community members are calling for added safety measures.

On the evening of the crash, Carter was headed home with her two sons, Ayden and Lincoln Palmer, driving between Denton and Thomasville, when a car coming the opposite direction crossed the center line and hit them head-on. All three perished at the scene. 

These three deaths mark nine other lives lost on a stretch of Highway that some consider dangerous. Community members have previously voiced concerns that swerving around turning cars and drifting over the center line are far too common.

In 2021, almost a quarter of the crashes reported were head-on collisions, according to sources at the Fair Grove Fire Department. 

Last summer, the North Carolina Department of Transportation responded by installing strips on the outside lines and center lines to keep people from drifting. They added a stoplight near the intersection of Clarksbury Church Road as well.

According to a release from the North Carolina State Highway Patrol, the stretch is still an area of concern. In addition to regular patrols, a Crash Reduction Enforcement Team "doubles down" on the section of the road at least twice a month. NCDOT said the regional office has requested a collision study on the area. Additionally, there are plans to add lanes to the road.

The driver of the Toyota SUV has been generically identified as a 62-year-old Winston-Salem woman. The driver of the Chevrolet SUV was identified as a 43-year-old man from Denton. A 13-year-old passenger was also in the vehicle.

Several memorial services have taken place for those who perished with representatives from Davidson County Schools offering counseling support for students prior to the names of those involved being officially released.

Law enforcement still declines speculation on the cause for swerving, noting that any charges will be based on the outcome of their continued investigation.