Fatal Collision in Pitt County Early Friday Morning
On Friday, August 29, at approximately 4:44 a.m., the North Carolina State Highway Patrol responded to a fatal collision on NC 102 near Madison Hardee Road in Pitt County.
Patrick Alonzo Bell, 37, of Washington, was traveling east on NC 102 when his vehicle veered off the road to the right. It struck a ditch culvert, overturned, and came to rest off the roadway.
According to authorities, Bell was ejected from the vehicle as he was not wearing a seatbelt and was pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities indicated that speed, lane control, and the lack of restraint were contributing factors in the crash.
The road was temporarily closed while emergency services conducted the investigation and cleared the scene. The investigation remains ongoing.