GREENVILLE – A Bertie County woman has become one of the first traffic fatalities of 2017 after a vehicle in which she was riding was struck broadside here in Pitt County around 7:45 p.m. on Monday.

Three other people involved in the accident were transported to Vidant Medical Center with non-life threatening injuries.

According to the Greenville Police Department, the crash occurred in front of the Quality Inn at 821 S. Memorial Drive in Greenville.

Meta Bridgett Gilliam, 51, of 506 N. King St., Windsor, was pronounced dead at the scene, officers said.

Greenville police say a 2007 Mercedes Benz, driven by 23-year-old Daniel Corey McLawhorn of Ayden, was traveling north on Memorial Drive when it collided with a 1997 Toyota, driven by 58-year-old Arcelious Eugene Valentine of 5705 US Hwy 258 in Rich Square.

Valentine told officers he was attempting to cut across five lanes of traffic from one hotel to another, when he was struck by an oncoming car driven by McLawhorn. Gilliam was a passenger in Valentine’s car, which was hit on the passenger side. The impact of the crash caused the Mercedes to lift off the roadway and strike the road sign in front of the Quality Inn, officers said.

Greenville Police also said there was a passenger, 21-year-old Antonio Demetrius Brown of Greenville, riding in the Mercedes.

A spokesperson with Vidant Medical Center in Greenville says McLawhorn and Valentine were both treated and released, while there was no medical information available on Brown.

Police say charges are pending in the accident.