Two 17-year-old boys, James Sweeten and Dakota Williamson, both of Franklin, were killed in a wreck May 24 on Sanderstown Road.
According to North Carolina State Highway Patrol Trooper Hunter Gass, a Chevy Tahoe traveling toward U.S. 23 (Sylva Road) crossed the center line and struck a motorcycle ridden by the two teens. They were ejected from the bike, which came to rest on the right shoulder of the road. The Tahoe flipped upside down and landed on its top on the right shoulder. The wreck occurred at 6:20 p.m.
Gass said when he arrived at the scene about 13 minutes after he received the call, a witness said there was only one person on the motorcycle. EMS and Fire were on the scene and recovered the motorcycle driver’s body in nearby trees. According to a family member, Williamson was driving the motorcycle.
The next day, a friend of the motorcycle driver went to the scene to look for a helmet and discovered the second body in the woods.
The driver of the Tahoe, Stephanie Elizabeth Vincent, 30, of Franklin, was injured and transported to the hospital.
On Friday, May 28, Gass said he was still waiting on Vincent’s blood test results. If the tests show she was impaired, Gass said Vincent will face two counts of felony death by vehicle. If the test results are clear she will be charged with two counts of misdemeanor death by motor vehicle. She will also be charged with reckless driving.