Quentin Peter Greear Death – In Johnston County on Tuesday afternoon, a tragic head-on collision resulted in the loss of life for one driver and a subsequent fire that fully consumed a gas tanker truck. The incident unfolded at approximately 5 p.m. on N.C. 39, situated near Meadowbrook Lane, approximately eight miles north of Selma. The deceased driver, identified as 42-year-old Quentin Peter Greear from Louisburg, was involved in the collision. According to the ongoing investigation conducted by the NC State Highway Patrol (NCSHP), Greear was operating a 2015 Nissan Sentra, traveling southbound at a notably high speed. The Sentra veered across the centerline, ultimately colliding head-on with a Freightliner.
Following the impact, First Sergeant Chris Knox reported that the tanker truck veered off the road to the right, subsequently erupting into flames that engulfed the entire vehicle. The fire not only ravaged the tanker but also caused damage to several adjacent properties.
Sergeant Knox highlighted that the collision’s causative factors included not only excessive speed but also suspicions of drug impairment contributing to the accident. Despite the intensity of the crash and ensuing fire, the driver of the tanker, a 50-year-old man from Knightdale, managed to escape the cab unharmed. Both drivers involved in the collision were sole occupants of their respective vehicles and were wearing seatbelts, as confirmed by Knox.
The response to the incident involved a collaborative effort from various agencies, including the Johnston County Sheriff’s Department, Selma Fire Department, Antioch Fire Department, Archer’s Lodge Fire Department, Johnston County EMS, and NC Department of Transportation.
N.C. 39 remained closed for a significant portion of the night to facilitate the response and investigation but has since been reopened to traffic.