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Vehicle lands in ravine, driver dead on scene

Julie N. Chang | The News Herald

Emergency responders from Lovelady and Icard Township fire departments, Eastern Burke Rescue Squad, Burke EMS and REACT survey the immediate area on Old 70 Loop, Connelly Springs where a vehicle (barely visible in the brush) on Thursday came to rest after careening into the ravine. The driver of the vehicle, whose name has not been released, was pronounced dead at the scene. The vehicle traveled from U.S. 70 across two yards, Old 70 Loop and a third yard before falling into the ravine. Firefighters cut away some of the heavy brush to remove the vehicle.

By Julie N. Chang | The News Herald

Published: February 12, 2009

Updated: 02/13/2009 10:20 am

CONNELLY SPRINGS - "I saw it come across the yard and through the garden," Larry Smith said about the vehicle whose crash left the driver dead Thursday afternoon in a ravine.

Richard Poole, 57, of 653-17th St. N.W., Hickory was dead at the scene when emergency responders arrived.

North Carolina Highway Patrol Trooper Jeremy Allen said the vehicle was traveling west on U.S. 70 in Connelly Springs when it ran off the road to the left toward Old 70 Loop.

Sgt. D.B. Conley said the vehicle ran off to the right, clipped a highway sign, veered back across the roadway and off to the left.

Smith said the vehicle ran through his neighbor's yard, then into his own yard where it hit some power lines.

Conley said the vehicle continued down an embankment going across Old 70 Loop and down a second embankment to the railroad tracks.

The vehicle came to a rest on the side of a bank, head down in a barely visible position about 15 feet down, next to the railroad tracks.

Emergency responders from Lovelady and Icard Township fire departments, Eastern Burke Rescue Squad, Burke Emergency Medical Services and Burke REACT helped Ramsey Motors retrieve the vehicle from the ravine.