AHOSKIE – One local teenager was killed and another seriously injured following a single vehicle accident here Friday night on the Ahoskie-Cofield Road.

Ethan Sean Davis, 17, of Ahoskie, died as the result of the mishap, one in which North Carolina Highway Patrol Trooper S.C. Hegmann listed excessive speed as a contributing factor in the accident that occurred at 9:42 p.m.

The wreck left 19-year-old Quatwan Knight, also of Ahoskie, trapped inside the vehicle. He was freed by the efforts of the Ahoskie Rural Fire Department and was initially taken to Vidant Roanoke-Chowan Hospital by Hertford County EMS. Knight was later transferred to Vidant Medical Center in Greenville.

According to Trooper Hegmann’s report, Davis was operating a 1997 BMW northbound on the Ahoskie-Cofield Road (RP 1409). At some point, Davis lost control of the vehicle as it crossed the center line and then veered back to the right. The vehicle traveled off the right side of the road where it impacted a drainage culvert in a private driveway.

After striking the culvert, the vehicle overturned multiple times, causing Davis to be ejected, before coming to rest on its wheels.

Hegmann’s report showed that neither Davis nor his front seat passenger were wearing seat belts.

“We have experienced quite a few very serious motor vehicle accidents in recent weeks, to include one earlier last week near Harrellsville that also resulted in a fatality,” said NC Highway Patrol First Sgt. Mike Warren of the Ahoskie office.

“Due to the pending holidays, people always seem to be in a thousand hurries this time of the year,” Warren continued. “Please slow down, be sure you and your passengers are properly restrained, and don’t drink and drive.”

Warren had just sent his troopers an email last week containing accident statistics locally. At that time there had been 12 fatalities within the local Highway Patrol district. Warren said of those dozen fatal wrecks, 58 percent of the victims were not wearing seat belts and 42 percent of those wrecks involved the use of alcohol by the driver.

“I’m asking….I’m pleading with our folks here in the Roanoke-Chowan area and across the state to please don’t take the added risks of consuming alcohol and then operating a motor vehicle; and please buckle up,” he stressed. “Be smart behind the wheel and live to enjoy the holidays, and every day of the year, with your family and friends.”

Friday’s wreck resulted in the 13th fatality of 2016 in the Highway Patrol’s Troop A / District II area, which includes Bertie, Gates and Hertford counties. Of those fatalities, six have occurred in Hertford County.