Two Teens Killed In Head-On Crash

SAMPSON COUNTY – Two people were killed Friday morning in a head-on crash involving a passenger vehicle and a tractor-trailer in Sampson County.

The State Highway Patrol said the collision occurred at 10:42 a.m. on NC 24, about 1.9 miles east of Clinton.

Trooper said a gray 2015 Honda Accord was traveling westbound on NC 24 and attempting to pass a Toyota truck when it traveled off the left side of the roadway. The Honda then reentered the roadway, lost control, and crossed into the eastbound lane, where it struck a 2025 International tractor trailer head-on.

Following the impact, the Honda was forced off the roadway and came to rest in the ditch. The tractor-trailer came to rest in the middle of the highway.

The driver and passenger of the Honda were pronounced dead at the scene. The driver was identified as Christopher Leonardo Avila Gomez, 18, of Clinton, and the passenger was identified as Isabel Marie Hepworth, 19, of Faison.

The driver of the tractor-trailer was identified as Timothy Andre Stedman, 45, of Fuquay-Varina. He was not injured in the collision.

The crash remains under investigation.