By Emily Ford
eford@salisburypost.com
SALISBURY ó A three-car accident at the intersection of Sherrillís Ford Road and N.C. 150 Saturday evening sent six people to the hospital, five of them children.
No one was seriously injured, said Trooper D.H. Deal with the N.C. Highway Patrol.
ěIt was a mess,î Deal said.
Joshua Casper, 31, of 270 Alan Circle failed to stop the 1998 Chevrolet he was driving before hitting a Dodge Caravan at the red light on Sherrillís Ford Road at the N.C. 150 intersection, Deal said. The impact caused a chain reaction, and the Caravan then hit a Ford passenger car, he said.
Rindy Branham, 28, of 3120 White Road, and her five children in the Caravan were transported by ambulance to Rowan Regional Medical Center for observation. The children are ages four to 12, and all were properly restrained as far as he could tell, Deal said.
Angela Phillips, 44, of 1150 Country Hill Drive, was driving the Ford.
Casper, who said his brakes failed, was charged with failing to reduce speed.
ěI couldnít find any evidence to substantiate that claim,î Deal said.
In total, 12 people were involved in the accident, and multiple ambulances responded to the scene. Emergency Medical Services and Locke Volunteer Fire Department kept things running smoothly, Deal said.
ěI congratulated them on a job well done,î he said. ěThey did a very good job logistically.î
Damage estimates were $2,000 for the Caravan, $1,000 for the Ford and $2,000 for Casperís car, which is probably a total loss, Deal said.
No alcohol or drugs were involved, he said.
Contact reporter Emily Ford at 704-797-4264.