Statesville man faces charges in crash that killed two, injured four on Fort Dobbs Road
A Statesville man was jailed overnight on charges that he crashed his vehicle into a golf cart near Fort Dobbs, killing a man and a young child. Four other people were seriously injured.
The N.C. Highway Patrol announced the arrest of Austin Ray Harmon, 23, in a news release.
Emergency personnel responded to Fort Dobbs Road near Fort Dobbs Drive about 9:40 p.m. Monday for a crash involving a 2009 Honda Accord and a golf cart occupied by six people, according to the NCHP.
The Honda Accord, which was driven by Harmon, was traveling west on Ford Dobbs Road when it crossed the centerline and collided with a golf cart that was traveling east, according to the news release.
The driver of the golf cart, Michael Shane Marlowe, 39, and a passenger, Bentley Marlowe, 5, succumbed to their injuries at the scene.
Four passengers on the golf cart, ages 2, 13, 16, and 26, were critically injured and transported by medical helicopters to Atrium Health Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte and Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem.
Harmon was not injured. He was arrested and charged with driving while impaired, two counts of felony death by vehicle, and three counts of felony serious injury by vehicle.
According to the Iredell County Detention Center records, he was being held without bond on Tuesday morning.
Fort Dobbs Road was closed in the area for approximately seven hours during the initial on-scene investigation. The investigation is ongoing.
Why was the golf cart on the road at 9:45 pm? Did it have a tag and insurance, as I understand is required in N.C.?
Better question: Why was the guy driving while impaired, which I understand is illegal in NC? Considering how screwed up our legal system is, the guy will likely get off on a technicality related to the cart.
Finally someone says exactly what I was 🤔 thinking! What responsible adult would be out at dark on a golf cart with children who I’m sure we’re not in any kind of safety seat or belt. Even if Austin was impaired, which is dead wrong to drink and drive but I would go as far as to say that the golf cart with children, at night, on a road that cars travel a lot should if it’s not BE a crime and child endangerment. I’m sure Austin didn’t set out that night to crash into a golf cart and kill 2, injure 4. But let’s call it like it is; if the adults in the golf cart were responsible they would not have been on the road AT 9:40 p.m. I’m sorry this accident happened. It’s a tragedy for all involved. Let’s all remember that even the guy who hit the cart has family and are suffering greatly, and not just because of Mr. Harmon’s bad choice to drink and drive but because the adults that night also are guilty of poor decisions made to be out at night on a golf cart on the road with kids.
Horrific news to hear. There should be no leniency for vehicular homicide while driving impaired.