Three killed in Wilkes County accident

An accident on U.S. 421 in Wilkes County claimed the lives of three Ashe county residents and left another in critical condition Saturday afternoon.

The accident occurred 12 miles west of Wilkesboro just after 6 p.m. on Saturday. A tractor-trailer driven by Curtis Isaac Mondy, 47, of St. Petersburg, Fla., was traveling southbound when it crossed the centerline, overturned and slid into a northbound pickup truck.

The Chevrolet Avalanche pickup was driven by Thomas Cameron Simon, 62, with three passengers, his wife Cheryle Cotter Simon, George Wesley Wiggins, 65, and Mary E. Wiggins, 63, all of Ashe County and Sarasota, Fla. The driver and both George and Mary Wiggins were killed in the accident.

Cheryle Simon was transported to Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center, where she was listed in critical condition as of Monday.

Mondy was treated and released from Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center. He was charged with three counts of misdemeanor death by vehicle and one count of reckless driving. N.C. Highway Patrol Trooper J. Berrong stated Mondy was exceeding the posted truck speed limit of 30 mph.

— Melanie Davis, staff writer