Clayton, NC (January 14, 2021) – A driver was killed and another was injured after a suspected impaired driving crash in Johnson County. The crash happened just before 6:00 p.m. on Buffaloe Road near the intersection with Rainbow Canyon Road.
According to the North Carolina State Highway Patrol, 59-year-old Francis Tappin, Jr. was driving an Oldsmobile SUV in a northbound direction when he traveled into the opposite lane and collided head-on with a mail truck that was traveling southbound. Tappin died as a result of injuries sustained in the crash. The driver of the mail truck, who has not been identified, was taken to a local hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.
Troopers believe that alcohol played a role in the crash and it is suspected that Tappin was impaired at the time of the accident. The crash caused the roadway to be closed while troopers worked at the scene. Drivers were advised to find alternate routes of travel. There is no additional information available.
Our thoughts go out to those affected by this crash in Clayton.
North Carolina Car Accidents 
Drivers in North Carolina face great risks when they get behind the wheel of a vehicle. While it is common to develop a false sense of security in your vehicle, the number of negligent drivers on the roadways means that North Carolina car accidents will take place every day, and many of them will involve injuries to innocent victims. A serious crash can take place in an instant and can result in major injuries that can be life-changing. Current statistics show that nearly 80,000 people are hurt in crashes that take place in North Carolina each year.
Car accidents in North Carolina are caused by many different factors. Some common causes of crashes include speeding, reckless driving, impairment, and distraction. The severity of a crash often depends on the nature of the accident, the speed at which the collision takes place, and the number of vehicles involved. Head-on crashes, for instance, are some of the most deadly and dangerous accidents that we see on our roadways and they are often caused by negligent drivers.
If you have been injured in an accident, you could have important legal rights. Before speaking with the insurance company, you should contact a North Carolina car accident attorney for assistance. Your attorney can provide you with advice on the next steps that you should take and can also handle all negotiations for your accident claim on your behalf. Your recovery should be the main focus during this time and you should not have to worry about your legal claim. At Burton Law Firm, our goal is to take the stress from the crash off of your shoulders. We will fight for the compensation you deserve when you need it the most.
We are standing by to help you at any time and we offer free consultations and case evaluations for all potential clients. To schedule your appointment with a member of our team, please contact us via the link on our website or give us a call at (833) 623-0042.
Note: Burton Law Firm utilizes a variety of outside sources in the creation of these accident news posts. These sources include news bulletins, police reports, first-hand accounts, news stories, as well as additional outside sources. For this reason, the details surrounding this accident have not been independently verified by our office or writing staff. If you find information that is not correct about an accident that we have written about, please contact our firm as soon as possible so that we can promptly correct the information. If you would prefer that we remove the story, contact us directly and we will make every effort to remove the story in a timely manner.
Disclaimer: Our team of personal injury lawyers at Burton Law Firm has taken pride in being active members of our local business community for more than 8 years. We are always striving to improve the quality of life for our community members and improve the overall safety and well-being of all North Carolinians. We hope that by providing this information about the dangers of driving that we will bring added awareness and drivers will use increased caution when operating a motor vehicle. Our thoughts are with everyone who may have been affected by this incident. This post is not a solicitation for business. None of the information in this post should be misconstrued as medical or legal advice. The photos in this post are not a depiction of the actual accident scene.