Highway patrol releases more details on Pea Ridge Road wreck

MILL SPRING — The North Carolina Highway Patrol recently  released more details regarding the July 6 wreck that claimed the life of Polk County High School rising senior Markell Lipscomb, 17, of Tryon.

No charges related to the crash had been filed as of Friday.

The North Carolina Highway Patrol reported that Brayshun Simpson, 17, of Mill Spring, was the driver of the vehicle, with Willie McBeth, 17, of Mill Spring, riding as a passenger. Lipscomb was a passenger in the back seat, according to reports.

The single car accident occurred around 12:15 p.m. last Friday along Pea Ridge Road, where Lipscomb died at the scene. Simpson and McBeth were injured and transported to area hospitals.

One of the injured students was taken by helicopter to Spartanburg Regional Medical Center and the other was taken by ambulance to St. Luke’s Hospital.

Both have been released, and are recovering from their injuries.

The North Carolina Highway Patrol reports that the vehicle was travelling an estimated 70 mph at the time of the accident. The speed limit on that section of Pea Ridge Road is 45 mph, according to the highway patrol.

The students were travelling North in a 2008 Lincoln when the crash occurred.

“As soon as vehicle one’s right side tires touched the right fog line, the driver over corrected, crossed the centerline, traveled off the roadway to the right, colliding with a small pole,” said Trooper Matthew Strawbridge in his report. “After impact, vehicle one went airborne, continued off the roadway to the right and collided with a culvert/ditch. The vehicle overturned and collided with a tree.”

Strawbridge also reported the roof of the vehicle impacted with the tree, which trapped all occupants inside. As a result of the collision, Strawbridge said one of the passengers (Lipscomb) died at the scene.

Lipscomb played football, basketball and ran track for Polk County High School. His funeral services were held Tuesday and Wednesday, with Polk County High School holding a memorial Wednesday night for students to remember Lipscomb and speak with counselors if necessary.

A GoFundMe page has been set up to help with funeral expenses for Lipscomb. To contribute, people can go to gofundme.com/markell-lipscomb.