UPDATED STORY: Woman dead, her grandson injured in King wreck--Impaired driver flees the scene

Lori M. Cox

In less than one week, there has been another motor vehicle accident fatality in Stokes County. This one occurred in King on Highway 66 near Mount Olive Church Road at around 4:28 p.m. on Saturday, May 21. Two other people were injured in this wreck.

Brenda Hyler Craig, 51, of 902 Wentworth St., Reidsville, was killed when her 1992 Acura was hit head-on by a 1997 Dodge Dakota pickup truck that crossed the center line. The pickup was operated by Michael Paul Barton, 25, of 1025 Lane Road, King. He was driving northbound on Highway 66 when he struck Craig’s car.

Also in the Acura was Craig’s seven-year-old grandson, Tyler Ray Vernon of Hamptonville. According to Stokes County EMS Director Monty Stevens, the child was pinned in the vehicle, rescued and transported to Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center, in stable condition.

Trooper Bobby Miller with the North Carolina Highway Patrol reported on Monday that although Vernon’s injuries were non-life-threatening, the little boy was still in the hospital.

When the wreck occurred, the truck caught fire with Barton inside. Other motorists who stopped to assist, as well as some bystanders, pulled Barton from the burning vehicle. According to Trooper Miller, Barton fled the scene shortly thereafter with 22-year-old Lori M. Cox who resides at the same address as Barton.

Later that night, Barton ended up at Forsyth Medical Center with serious injuries from the wreck. Cox, who took him to the hospital, was arrested there and charged with felony aiding and abetting and felony hit and run. She is being held on a $5,000 bond in the Stokes County Jail.

Barton has warrants out for his arrest on charges of felony hit and run and driving while impaired. He is currently under guard at Forsyth Medical Center; those warrants will be served immediately upon his release.

The court date for Barton and Cox is Tuesday, July 26.