Two separate accidents claim lives

Vilas crash fatal

A 19-year-old Zionville man was killed when his car collided head-on with another vehicle Tuesday morning on U.S. 421 near Vilas, according to the N.C. Highway Patrol.

Dillon Andrew Price, who was driving a 1993 Geo,  reportedly died at the scene.

Andrew Thomas Jordan, 25, of West Jefferson was injured in the crash while driving a 2002 Honda. He was taken to Watauga Medical Center for treatment of unspecified injuries.

Both drivers were reportedly trapped in their vehicles when first-responders arrived on the scene.

The collision was reported at 2:47 a.m. about seven miles northwest of Boone, according to a NCHP spokesman. The cause of the accident is still under investigation.

—Jerry Sena, staff writer

One killed in Avery crash last week

An Appalachian State University student was critically injured and his passenger killed when the pickup truck he was driving crashed in the early morning of Oct. 19.

A Highway Patrol spokesman said Ben Bumgardner, a senior music industry studies major, was headed north about five miles east of Newland on N.C. 105 when he lost control of the truck for unknown reasons just after midnight.

The NCHP spokesman said the cause of the wreck was still under investigation.

Killed in the crash was 25-year-old Daniela Bissoli, of Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Bumgardner was airlifted to Charlotte Medical Center with injuries to his jaw, head and legs.

—Jerry Sena, staff writer