WOODLAND – A July 5 accident that claimed the life of an 11-month-old child remains under investigation by the North Carolina Highway Patrol.

Shamya Monique Vaughan, the daughter of Melvin Vaughan and Sharon Howard of Woodland, died July 6 at the Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters in Norfolk, Va. as a result of the injuries sustained in the two-vehicle accident.

Highway Patrol Trooper Steve Mize continues to investigate the mishap, one that occurred at 2:20 a.m. on SR 1160 (Benthall Bridge Road).

There, according to Mize’s report, a 1994 Freightliner tractor-trailer, owned by Perdue Farms and driven by Luther Curtis Williams, 53, of Rich Square, was exiting a private driveway and turning north onto SR 1160. As is normal with an 18-wheeler making a wide turn, the truck crossed the centerline and entered the southbound lane of travel.

At that time, Melvin Vaughan, 38, was operating a 1996 Toyota SUV southbound on SR 1160. Apparently, upon seeing the truck in his lane, Vaughan caused his vehicle to swerve off the left side of the road where it struck several trees.

Howard, 34, and the child were passengers in the back seat of Vaughan’s vehicle.

The extent of the injuries sustained by M. Vaughan and Howard are not known.