ONSLOW COUNTY, NC — A Richlands man faces charges after a fatal vehicle crash early Friday morning that killed his wife and injured another driver.
At approximately 6:32 a.m., Xavier Sharkey, 27, was driving a Chevy Malibu southbound on Highway 258 when he turned left in front of a northbound van. The van collided with the Malibu's passenger side, causing it to spin into a ditch and resulting in the van overturning in a separate ditch.
Sharkey's wife, Amaya Mills, 23, was a passenger in the Malibu and died at the scene. Both Sharkey and the van's driver sustained minor injuries and were hospitalized. Sharkey faces charges of misdemeanor death by motor vehicle and failure to yield, while the 46-year-old van driver is charged with no operator's license.
The multi-vehicle collision caused significant traffic delays, prompting officials to advise motorists to avoid the area. The Onslow County Sheriff's Office reported around 8:20 a.m. that drivers should use Thomas Loop Road to Old Northwest Bridge Road to circumvent the scene. The roadway reopened to traffic around 9:30 a.m.
Authorities confirm that the State Highway Patrol is investigating the incident. Further details will be provided as they become available.