Three men are killed in N.C. 113 wreck Saturday

By COBY LaRUE
Staff

Three men were killed in a two-vehicle accident that occurred last Saturday at 5 p.m. at the intersection of Piney Creek School Road and N.C. 113, according to a report by Trooper R.L. Lane.

Killed in the accident were 25-year-old Juan Antonio Martinez-Olguin and 19-year-old Joel Rios, both of Edneyville; and 19-year-old Silvano Recendiz of Hendersonville. All three of the men were in the same vehicle and were pronounced dead at the scene, witnesses said.

Two others involved in the accident, Robert Junior Childress of North Wilkesboro and David Leatherman of Woodleaf, were treated and released at Alleghany Memorial Hospital.

According to the report, Martinez-Olguin was driving a 1991 Buick eastbound on Piney Creek School Road and apparently stopped at the stop sign before attempting to cross the intersection with N.C. 113. Another vehicle, a 1998 Chevy pickup driven by Childress, was southbound on N.C. 113 and was unable to stop before striking the side of the vehicle.

Rescue workers attempt to aid victims in an accident on N.C. 113 last Saturday. All three men in the car (shown covered with a blue tarp) were pronounced dead at the scene, witnesses said.

The Buick spun around, traveled off the right side of the road and came to rest in a field. According to the report, the Buick traveled about 66 feet after impact.

The pickup also spun around and came to rest further up the road in the same field. The truck traveled about 100 feet after impact. The estimated speed of the truck was 55, while the car's speed was estimated at 25 miles per hour.

No charges were filed in relation to the accident.

Damage to the truck was estimated at $10,500, while damage to the Buick, registered to Recendiz, was estimated at $3,200.

The three men who were killed had been employed by Moss Farms, a Hendersonville apple grower. The farm's packing house was closed on Monday evening in honor of the three men. One of the farm's owners, Donna Moss, said the three were good workers. "They were just real nice boys," she said.

She was trying to inform family members of the three Monday.

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