ROCKWELL — A sport-utility vehicle reported to authorities for erratic driving was involved in a head-on collision on U.S. 52 moments after passing a Rowan County Sheriff’s deputy this afternoon.
The North Carolina Highway State Patrol said someone near Rowan and Stanly county line reported that the driver of a Trailer Blazer was being reckless about 2:45 p.m. Just as the call was being relayed to authorities, a deputy noticed the northbound SUV on U.S. 52 and tried to stop it. The SUV crossed the center line and hit an oncoming vehicle.
The driver of the Trail Blazer reportedly had a medical condition leading to the loss of control, N.C.
State Highway Patrol reports said.
Four people were injured in the collision, including two children, and they were taken to NorthEast Medical Center in Concord.
The driver of the SUV had to be freed from the wreckage. He was identified as Danny Coggins, 63, of Mount Gilead.
The driver of the other vehicle, traveling south, was Lee Readling, 43, of Norwood. Two children were in that vehicle, but their identities were not given.
Emergency communications initially reported the crash happened during a police chase.
The accident occurred at U.S. 52 and Sides Road, leading to a traffic detour around the crash scene.