Three killed in two

accidents over the weekend
By Melanie Marshall

Three people were killed in two vehicle accidents over the weekend.

The first accident occurred at approximately 3 a.m. Saturday morning on U.S. 321 in Sugar Grove.

Matthew Curtis Main, 23, of Sugar Grove, was traveling toward the Tennessee state line near the Watauga River Bridge when he lost control of his 2002 Ford Escape in a curve. The vehicle went off the right side of the road and rolled several times, ejecting Main.

Main was pronounced dead at the scene.

According to the accident report by the N.C. Highway Patrol, he was not wearing a seatbelt. Speed contributed to the accident, officers said.

Two men were killed Sunday afternoon on Brownwood Road in Deep Gap.

Jose Valles, 24, of Fleetwood, was traveling southbound in a 1994 Dodge work van when lost control of the vehicle at approximately 1 p.m. The van left the right side. Valles turned the vehicle sharply back to the left, and the van rolled multiple times in the roadway.

Two passengers were ejected from the van, Jose Antonio, 27, and Marcial Munoz, 40, both of Fleetwood.

Both were pronounced dead at the scene. Antonio and Munoz were not wearing seatbelts. There were a total of 14 people in the van. Eight were transported to Watauga Medical Center, including Valles.

Investigating officer trooper D. Searcy of the N.C. Highway Patrol said Valles was believed to have been wearing a seatbelt, though none of the others were. Exceeding a safe speed contributed to the accident.

No criminal charges have been filed as of Monday morning.