SPIVEY’S CORNER — A Midway High School student and a Roseboro man were killed in a multi-vehicle wreck Wednesday night, a fatal collision for which a teen driver has now been charged.
The wreck happened at 7:13 p.m. Wednesday at the intersection of Roanoke Road and Straw Pond School Road, not far from U.S. 421 and Midway High School. According to reports from the N.C. Highway Patrol, Miranda Faith Butler, 17, of Church Road, Clinton, and Willie McMillian, 69, of Old Cotton Gin Road, Roseboro, died as a result.
Butler was a back seat passenger in a Jeep and McMillian was the driver of a Chevy Silverado.
Four others were transported to local hospitals for their injuries, including the Jeep’s driver, Azlynn Bass, 16, of Timberwood Lane, Clinton, and its front passenger, Nathan Piercy, 16, of Mar Jay Road, Dunn. Two others were with a disabled vehicle on the side of the roadway, which was struck by the Jeep after the initial impact between the Jeep and the Chevy.
Trooper G.J. Bianchi, who investigated the wreck, said that the vehicle had apparently run out of gas and the husband, Atanacio Renovato, 49, and his wife, Otila Gomez-Renovato, 51, were tending to it.
Bass and Piercy were transported to Sampson Regional Medical Center in Clinton, while the Renovatos were taken to Betsy Johnson in Dunn. None of their injuries were life-threatening.
According to reports from Bianchi, the Jeep being driven by Bass was traveling on Roanoke Road when it failed to stop for a stop sign at the intersection with Straw Pond School Road. The Chevy, traveling south on Straw Pond School Road, struck the Jeep in its passenger side as it entered the path of travel, sending it off the left side of the roadway, where it hit the Renovatos’ disabled vehicle. Butler was ejected as a result.
The Chevy spun around and came to rest on the shoulder of the roadway, facing north.
Bianchi said the fatal wreck is still under investigation, but noted that charges have been brought on Bass. She has been charged with two counts of misdemeanor death by motor vehicle and failure to stop at a duly erected stop sign.
On Thursday morning, Midway High School sent out a message via its Twitter account, acknowledging the passing of Butler.
“With heavy hearts, we report the passing of Miranda Butler after an auto accident last night. Miranda was a junior and a member of the Class of 2020. While we mourn her loss, we cherish her time at MHS and will continue to pray for her friends and family! Rest In Peace!”
A prayer service and vigil to remember Butler was scheduled for 6 p.m. Friday in the school’s auditorium, with the service open to students, staff, family and community members. School is not in session this week, as it is spring break across the county.
The sudden loss of Butler is yet another blow to the Midway community, which has suffered an inordinate amount of tragedies involving students and recent alumni on roadways over the years, most coming in the spring and summer.
Butler’s death comes just two weeks after Midway High School students dedicated a memorial to Jackson Glenn Barefoot, a member of the Class of 2019 and beloved member of the school’s marching band. Barefoot died in July 2018 as he rode his bike in northern Sampson, struck by a passing vehicle. A female motorist was charged in his death.
Like Butler, he was just 17 years old.