LEWISTON-WOODVILLE – A Bertie County woman became the 19th fatality of the year on Roanoke-Chowan roadways during a two-vehicle wreck here Saturday afternoon.

Earlena Watson, 49, of Lewiston-Woodville was pronounced dead at the scene of the 3:50 p.m. accident at the intersection of NC 11 and NC 308.

In his investigation of the accident scene, North Carolina State Highway Patrol Trooper L.N. Hill reported that Watson, operating a 1990 Chevrolet passenger vehicle, was traveling north on NC 11. A short distance behind Watson’ car was a 2003 Jeep, driven by Patrick Perry, 40, of Ahoskie. His vehicle was also traveling north on NC 11.

The accident apparently took place when Watson first made an attempt to turn right onto NC 308 East, but changed direction. She allegedly drove her vehicle from the right turn lane and into the left turn lane where she appeared to be making an attempt to travel onto NC 308 West, towards Lewiston-Woodville.

At the time she apparently changed lanes, her vehicle turned into the path of Perry’s Jeep, which struck Watson’s car in the driver’s side door.

No charges were filed.

The fatality was the 11th in Bertie County thus far this year. The eight other fatal wrecks have occurred in the other two counties covered by the Ahoskie office of the State Highway Patrol – Hertford and Gates.