Two people died in a traffic crash at 10:38 p.m. Saturday at the intersection of Ramseur Road and U.S. 160, West Plains police reported.
In a statement emailed to the media Sunday afternoon, Police Chief Stephen Monticelli reported police and fire personnel responded to the intersection, where they found a 2008 Ford Escape in the ditch, substantially damaged from having been struck in the driver’s side. The driver, a 76-year-old man, and a passenger, a 68-year-old woman, were pronounced dead at the scene; Monticelli did not name them, noting in the statement that the police department “no longer identifies fatality victims in crashes.” No reason for the new policy was given.
A 2015 Dodge Durango was on U.S. 160 where it had come to rest n the middle turning lane, Monticelli reported, noting it also had substantial damage to its front end. The 17-year-old occupants, a boy who was the driver and a girl who was a passenger, were taken to area hospitals to be checked out said Monticello. Children are not identified in police reports due to state laws protecting the privacy of minors.
According to Monticelli, investigation of the crash scene indicates the Durango was headed south on the highway, and the Escape was traveling east across the highway from Old U.S. 160/County Road 6070 toward Ramseur Road. Investigation is still ongoing by the police Reconstruction Team, he added.
Both vehicles were towed from the scene. The roads, which had been closed, were reopened to traffic at 1:32 a.m.
