MURFREESBORO – A two-vehicle crash just north of here Tuesday afternoon sent four to the hospital, including one driver who was airlifted from the scene.

According to a report filed by North Carolina Highway Patrol Trooper G.P. Bowman, both vehicles involved in the crash were northbound on US 258 at around 3:37 p.m.

One driver, Latoya Mercer of Ahoskie, was operating a 1995 Jeep Grand Cherokee. She had stopped her vehicle in the northbound lane, awaiting oncoming traffic, in an effort to turn left into Maney’s Neck Mobile Park.

Bowman said a 2011 Toyota SUV, driven by Brad Warren of Murfreesboro, was approaching the SUV from the rear and failed to stop in time, striking it and causing Mercer’s vehicle to cross the center line, into the path of an 18-wheeler in the southbound lane.

“The driver of the 18-wheeler told me he was able to slam on brakes and bring his rig to a stop before it struck the Jeep,” Bowman said.

The Jeep came to rest in a ditch, on the southbound shoulder of the highway, near a driveway to the mobile home park.

Mercer’s injuries caused Hertford County EMS officials to summon EastCare (a medical transport helicopter) from Vidant Medical Center in Greenville. That helicopter landed in a secured area of the mobile home park and airlifted Mercer to Greenville where her medical condition is unknown at this time.

Three passengers in Mercer’s vehicle – Cierra Jones, Eric Jones Jr. and Alnester Spruill, all of Ahoskie – were transported by Hertford County EMS to Vidant Roanoke-Chowan Hospital in Ahoskie. Their medical conditions are unknown.

Bowman charged Warren, who was traveling alone, with failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident.

The Murfreesboro Fire Department and Murfreesboro Police Department also answered the call to the accident scene.