Johnston County, NC - Johnston Native is Killed in Wreck ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Goldsboro News Argus April 19,1954 Johnston Native Is Killed In Wreck; Two Others Dead A native of Johnston County is dead and her husband and the couple's children reported critically injured as a result of an auto smash up near Suffolk, Va., Saturday afternoon. The wreck snuffed out three lives. Fatally injured were Mrs. Dorothy Jones Gurley, 29, a native of Johnston County; Mrs. Margaret Wilson Forbes, 34, a former resident of Tarboro and her six-month-old daughter, Paula Sue. William P. Gurley, 37, native of Wayne County, suffered a broken arm, scalp and face cuts and is reported in serious condition. The three Gurley children listed in critical condition are William, 12, skull facture, scalp lacerations, and possible brain injury; Brenda, 6, fractured left thigh and general abrasions and lacerations; Christine, 10, face and scalp lacerations, fractured skull and fractured left thigh. They are hospitalized at Obici Hospital, Suffolk,Va. Mrs. Capitola Bridger, Portsmouth, Va., operator of the other vehicle suffered scalp lacerations, fractured ribs and a possible lung injury. Mrs. Gurley and the infant Forbes died instantly as a result of the crash on Route 18 between Suffolk and Holland, Va. shortly after 1 p. m. Saturday. Mrs. Forbes died at Obici Hospital yesterday morning. State Trooper B. F. Whitner, investigating officer, said the auto operated by Gurley and that driven by Mrs. Bridger collided with terrific impact. The Gurley car, he said, was traveling west and apparently went out of control on a curve. The Bridger car was headed east. The cars collided in the extreme south lane of the highway, he said. Whitener said the road was wet and slippery. A police office and a restaurant owner were killed in a similar accident on almost the same spot several months ago, the investigating officer reported. The site is a three lane curves on Route 58. Funeral services for Mrs. Gurley are incomplete. She was the daughter of Raford Tilmer Jones and Hattie Hicks Jones. She was born in Johnston County and had been living in Phoebus for about a year. Other survivors include Mrs. Marshall Strickland of Norfolk,Va.; four brothers, James R. Jones and Charles E. Jones, both of the Navy, stationed at Newport, R. I., Paul Jones and Donnie Jones, both of Kenly Rt. 1. Goldsboro News Argus April 20, 1954 10-Year- Old Girl Fourth Fatality of Auto Accident The death toll of the traffic accident near Suffolk, Va., Saturday night that took the life of a native of Johnston County and a mother and infant daughter of Tarboro increased to four fatalities late yesterday with the death of Christine Gurley, 10-year-old daughter of the dead woman who formerly resided in Johnston County. The dead child is one of the three Gurley children who were seriously injured in the smash up on Highway 58 between Holland and Suffolk, Va., Saturday afternoon while the family was enroute to North Carolina to spend the holidays. The father and driver of one of the autos, William Anderson Gurley, a native of Wayne County, is also hospitalized with serious injuries. The other two fatalities are identified as Mrs. Margaret Wilson Forbes, 34, and her six-month-old daughter, Paula Sue Forbes, natives of Tarboro and occupants of the Gurley auto. Gurley's auto according to officers, collided with another sedan operated by Mrs. Capitola Orman Bridger of Portsmouth, Va. She was the only occupant of the car and was not seriously hurt. Double funeral services will be held for Mrs. Gurley and her daughter at 3 p. m. today at the home of her parents, Tilmer and Hettie Hicks Jones near Kenly. The Reverends M. D. Freeman and J. D. Roberts will officiate. Burial will be in the Jones family cemetery near Kenly. Goldsboro News Argus May 3, 1954 Fifth Victim of Virginia Accident Dies A fifth fatality was recorded yesterday in the Easter week-end accident near Suffolk, Va. that took the life of Mrs. Dorothy Jones Gurley, a native of Johnston County, her 10-year-old daughter, Christine, Mrs. Margaret Wilson Forbes, 34, and her six-month-old daughter, natives of Tarboro. The latest victim of the crash is 12-year-old William Gurley, son of the dead woman and William P. Gurley, native of Wayne County. Young William Gurley, who suffered a skull facture, scalp lacerations and brain injury, died at Obici Hospital in Suffolk, Va., yesterday at 1:45 p. m. without regaining consciousness. The auto crash occurred on Highway 58 between Holland and Suffolk, Va., the Saturday afternoon before Easter while the family was enroute to North Carolina to spend the holidays with relatives. Gurley's auto according to officers, collided with another sedan driven by Mrs. Capitola Orman Bridger of Portsmouth, Va.. She was the only occupant of the car and was not seriously injured. The Gurley car, according to State Trooper B. F. Whitner, investigating officer, went out of control on the wet and slippery highway and the vehicles collided with terrific impact. William P. Gurley, 37, is recovering from a broken arm and scalp and face lacerations. Brenda Gurley, 6, is recovering from a fractured left thigh and general abrasions and lacerations. Funeral services for young William Gurley will be held tomorrow at 3 p. m. from the home of his maternal grandparents, Tilmer and Hettie Hicks Jones near Kenly. The Reverends M. D. Freeman and J. D. Roberts will officiate. Burial will be in the Jones family cemetery near Kenly. ___________________________________________________________________ Copyright. 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