High Country news briefs:

Names of Christmas Eve crash victims released

The N.C. Highway Patrol has released the names of several victims injured in a Christmas Eve crash involving six vehicles.

Two of the victims, Penny Christine Abe, 43, of Boone, and Melba Ashley, 48, of Boone, were airlifted to Johnson City Medical Center following the collision. Hospital officials said Abe was under observation for 24 hours and released. Ashley was released after 48 hours.

Another victim, James Troy Byrum, was treated at the Watauga Medical Center and released, according to a highway patrol spokesman.

One driver, 61-year-old Kenneth Silva, of Blowing Rock, complained of minor injuries but refused transportation to Watauga Medical Center.

Silva was driving a late model Dodge Durango when he rear-ended Abe’s Ford passenger vehicle, investigators said. Abe’s car then crossed the center-line and struck Ashley’s 1985 Ford Bronco head on.

Charges against Silva are pending, said highway patrol spokesman Sgt. D.D. Dawson, including failure to reduce speed as necessary to avoid a collision.

—Jerry Sena, staff writer