A local funeral home operator was killed in a tragic accident. Norman L. Dunn of Four Oaks, the president of West & Dunn Funeral Homes and also the Vice President of the NC Singing Convention in Benson, died in a two-vehicle collision just before 11:00am Tuesday at the intersection of Goldsboro Highway (Highway 13) and Alex Benton Road outside of Newton Grove in northern Sampson County.
A Lowes’ Home Improvement box truck and Lincoln passenger car collided at the intersection. The truck overturned after the collision. The sedan struck a tree and came to rest.
Mr. Dunn, the only occupant in the car, died at the scene. The driver of the box truck was transported to the hospital with minor injuries.
According to the West & Dunn Funeral Homes website, Mr. Dunn became a licensed funeral director in 1983 and formed a partnership in 1996 for West & Dunn Funeral Homes Inc. In 2002, with the death of his partner, Sam West, Mr. Dunn was elected vice president of the company and served in the capacity until 2011 when he purchased all shares of the stock from the West family and became the full company owner. The funeral home has locations in Newton Grove, Benson and Erwin.
According to the funeral home website, Mr. Dunn had been a longtime member of Lee’s Chapel Advent Christian Church in Four Oaks where he sang in the church choir and previously served as a deacon.
The State Highway Patrol investigated the collision. An accident report has not yet been released.
