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GATES – A two-vehicle accident claimed one life near here Thursday morning.

Edward George O’Connor, 54, of Woodland, died after the 18-wheeler he was operating was struck head-on by a passenger car on US 13 near its intersection with Smith Road in Gates County.

Trooper E. Lujan of the North Carolina State Highway Patrol said he got the call at 2:51 am.

Lujan said a Honda passenger car, driven by 39-year-old Kendall McKenzie Williams of Windsor, was southbound on US 13 while the 18-wheeler was northbound.

“The passenger car driven by Mr. Williams crossed the center line and struck the 18-wheeler head-on,” Lujan said.

The Trooper added that after impact, the 18-wheeler traveled off the right side of the road where it struck a ditch and overturned.

Meanwhile, the passenger car came to rest in the roadway. Williams did not require medical transport, Lujan said.

Williams was charged with misdemeanor death by motor vehicle, reckless driving, and driving left of center.

The fatality was the 10^th of the year within the NCHP’s Troop A / District II area (Bertie, Gates, Hertford counties). Four of those fatalities have occurred in Gates County.