Man, child killed, several other children injured in crash, police say
A crash Sunday left two people dead, including a 10-year-old child, and several other children injured, according to Marion police.
The crash happened just after 5 p.m. on Highway 70 near Old Highway 10 in Marion, North Carolina.
Police say a preliminary investigation shows that a 2005 Ford, driven by John Russell, 53, of Marion was traveling east on Highway 70.
Investigators say it appears Russell's vehicle crossed the center line and struck a 2018 Chevrolet SUV, driven by Juana Guardian, 31, also of Marion, who was traveling west on Highway 70.
Russell, the only person in the 2005 Ford, and a 10 year old who was the backseat passenger of the 2018 Chevrolet, were killed, according to police.
Baltazar Ortiz and a 4-year-old child, who were also passengers in the 2018 Chevrolet, remain in critical condition at Mission Hospital in Asheville, police said.
Police said three other children, who were in the 2018 Chevrolet, were taken to Mission Hospital in Asheville, with non-life threatening injuries.
Investigators with the Marion Police Department say they are trying to determine why Russell’s vehicle crossed the center line.
Witnesses on the scene told police they saw Russell’s vehicle crossing the double yellow line on at least three times before the crash.
Toxicology testing is being done on Russell, to determine if any impairment was a contributing factor in this collision, police said.