Three killed after car crash in McDowell County

A three-vehicle wreck over the weekend resulted in the deaths of killed three people. One person was injured.

The crash took place on Saturday at approximately 12:03 p.m., on U.S. 64 near N.C. 226 South in the Dysartsville community of McDowell County when a 2005 Toyota SUV driven by Eleke Chief Ijioma, 69, of Spartanburg, South Carolina, was traveling south on U.S. 64 and appeared to cross the centerline, crashed with a Volkswagen car that was heading north on U.S. 64.

The 2016 Volkswagen passenger car was driven by a 67-year-old identified as Charles Albert Bonic, of Rutherfordton along with a front-seat passenger, Bonic’s wife identified as Kathleen Cecilia Bonic, 77, also of Rutherfordton.

A third vehicle, a 2017 Nissan Passenger, was driven by a 21-year-old identified as Christopher John Davis, of Casar and he was following directly behind the Volkswagen and went left of center in an attempt to prevent crashing with either vehicle. He did make contact with the SUV driven by Eleke Chief Ijioma.

Eleke Chief Ijioma, Kathleen Cecilia Bonic and Charles Albert Bonic died due to the crash while Christopher John Davis had minor injuries.

North Carolina Highway Patrol investigated the crash.