WILMINGTON — State Highway Patrol are investigating a fatal car accident that occurred on a flooded road in Brunswick County on Tuesday.
Southport resident Richard Walton Robinson, 80, died after driving his vehicle into flood waters on N.C. 211, near Stone Chimney Road, just past midnight. The road had become impassable due to flood waters at the Lockwood Folly River Bridge. As a result, law enforcement parked their vehicles in the roadway to block access.
The state agency reports Robinson was traveling in his Subaru Crosstrek along N.C. 211 and drove around stationary Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office vehicles into high water. The vehicle became fully submerged with Robinson still inside. A water rescue team arrived on scene, but were unsuccessful in its attempts to locate the vehicle.
First responders returned to the river the following day; the Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office Dive Team located the vehicle and Robinson inside the vehicle.
State Highway Patrol report alcohol nor speed appear to be factors in the collision.
Have tips or concerns? Email info@localdailymedia.com.
Want to read more from PCD? Subscribe now and then sign up for our newsletter, Wilmington Wire, and get the headlines delivered to your inbox every morning.
