Friday wreck victim
released from hospital

A Vilas man involved in a Friday wreck has been released from the hospital but may face charges, authorities said.

A 1994 Volkswagen car, driven by Andrew Worley, 21, of Vilas, crossed the center line just after 7 a.m. Friday morning near the intersection of N.C. 105 Bypass and U.S. 421, swiping one truck before colliding head-on with another.

Otis Thompson, 49 of Glade Springs, Va., was traveling southbound in a 2004 Ford truck. He told officers at the scene he saw the Volkswagen veer toward the center. He reacted by driving his truck to the right, in an attempt to avoid collision. The Volkswagen crashed into the side of the Ford. Thompson was uninjured.

Continuing northbound, the Volkswagen collided head-on with a 2004 Chevrolet truck, driven by Daniel Combs, 19, of Zionville. Combs was treated at the scene.

Trooper Danny Searcy of the N.C. Highway Patrol said Combs later went to Watauga Medical Center for further treatment of his injuries. Boone Fire Department, Watauga Medics and Watauga Rescue responded to the accident. Worley was injured in the accident and transported via Wings Air Rescue to Johnson City Medical Center in Tennessee. He has been treated and released.

Searcy said there was no evidence of alcohol involvement. Charges against Worley are pending further investigation, Searcy said.

— Melanie Davis, staff writer