Rear-end crash claims man near Williams

By DEUCE NIVEN

    An elderly Brunswick County man died after a pick-up truck he was in was rear-ended by a Hummer in Williams Township Thursday morning, Trooper Melvin Campbell of the North Carolina Highway Patrol said.
    A broken neck instantly killed Janek Darwin Hewett, Columbus County Coroner Linwood Cartrette said.
    Hewet, 73, of Exum Road NW in Ash, was a passenger in the 2000 Ford pick-up driven bvy Zendal Shaley, 53, of Shallotte, Campbell said.
    Whaley was travelling south on U.S. 701 in the Williams Township Community about 10:30 a.m., stopped to make a left turn on Gore Trailer Road, when his truck was struck in the rear by a 2007 Hummer driven by Jason Goins, 29, of Clio, South Carolina, Campbell said.
    Goins was unhurt, Whaley said he would seek medical attention but refused to be taken to a hospital by ambulance, Campbell said.
    Cartrette said damage to the front of the Hummer and the back of the truck, significant, did not look life threatening.
    “It didn’t look that bad,” Cartrette said. “But it broke his neck.”
    Goins was charged with misdemeanor death by motor vehicle, Campbell said. There was no indication of alcohol or drug use, or speeding involved in the crash, the trooper said.