airlifted 2 cars crash down embankment

Just before 2 p.m. Thursday, authorities were called to a three-vehicle accident on Highway15-501 in front of Pete’s Family Restaurant in Carthage.

When arriving on scene, they found two of the three vehicles overturned down an embankment. Two life helicopters were put on standby.

After assessing the victims, one helicopter was flown in from Cape Fear Valley out of Fayetteville.

One male patient was flown to a trauma center with serious injuries, one patient was taken by ambulance to FirstHealth Moore Regional with unknown injuries, and six patients were evaluated on scene and then released.

The two vehicles were approximately 20 feet down the embankment, and it took tow truck drivers almost an hour and a half to get the vehicles pulled up and on wheels. Rockwell Towing was one of the companies assisting on scene.

Highway15-501 was only open to one lane of traffic for over two hours.

Occasionally, both lanes were closed, so the tow trucks could safely remove the vehicles. A special truck had to be brought in with a lift to help remove the vehicles.

The cause of the accident is being investigated by Carthage Police Department.

Responding to the accident were Carthage Fire and Rescue, Whispering Pines Fire and Rescue, Cypress Point Fire and Rescue, Moore County EMS, Moore County Public Safety, Cape Fear LifeLink Helicopter, Carthage Police Department and Rockwell Towing.

Sandhills_Sentinel~Article, photos, and videos by Sandhills Sentinel Reporter Curtis Self.