ONSLOW COUNTY, NC — A vehicle crash on Friday, August 15, resulted in one fatality on Gum Branch Road.
The incident occurred around 4:00 p.m. when a 2025 Honda Civic, driven by Andre Keene Jr., was traveling west near Peewee Murphy Lane. The Civic reportedly veered left of center and struck a 2001 pickup truck towing a utility trailer heading east.
The impact caused the pickup truck and trailer to overturn off the roadway, while the Honda Civic ended up in a ditch. The driver of the pickup, identified as Daniel R. Pollock, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Keene Jr. was transported to Naval Medical Center in Camp Lejeune and is undergoing surgery. Authorities confirmed he will face charges, including misdemeanor death.
Gum Branch Road was temporarily closed in both directions for the investigation, impacting the area between East Point Road and Cow Horn Road. The road was reopened around 6:30 p.m. Following the crash, the Onslow County Sheriff’s Office advised motorists to use alternate routes, suggesting Cow Horn and Francktown Road as detours.
The State Highway Patrol is handling the investigation. Authorities continue to urge drivers to avoid the vicinity.