MICRO – The State Highway Patrol has released preliminary details about a fatal crash Saturday afternoon on Highway 301 North of Micro at Watson Road. A Johnston County Sheriff’s Office marked patrol car and pickup truck collided at the intersection, killing the driver of the truck.
According to the Highway Patrol, Deputy Quinton Rhue was responded to a “suicide shots fired call” with his blue lights and siren activated.
The deputy, traveling northbound on Highway 301, approached two vehicles also traveling northbound. The first car slowed and began to pull to the right as the deputy passed.
The next vehicle, a GMC Sonoma pickup driven by Shirley Ann James, began to turn left at the intersection as the deputy was passing. The front right corner of the patrol car struck the drivers door of the pickup. After the impact the patrol car ran off the roadway on the left. The pickup slid sideways and overturned off the right side of Highway 301.
The deputy was transported to Wake Medical Center for treatment of his injuries. Ms. James died at the scene as a result of her injuries.
The State Highway Patrol continues to investigate the collision.
