Collision injures five people

Authorities are investigating the cause of an accident Friday that sent five people to the hospital.

Rocky Mount police reported the wreck involved two drivers, Shirley Ann Brown-Russell and Debrah Batts McKnight, who also had three passengers with her, Crystal McKnight, Alicia Isier and Auadeshia Batts.

Officer C.N. Williams was at the scene after the accident. He said officials receieved a call from a witness around 4:45 p.m. that Brown-Russell, the driver of a silver Nissan Sentra, ran a red light while traveling on Sunset Avenue and collided with McKnight’s white Honda Accord, who was traveling on North Church Street.

The collision caused Brown-Russell’s Nissan Sentra to flip several times and came to rest upside down. Williams said the witness claimed that McKnight had the green light while traveling on North Church Street.

Brown-Russell was hit by the McKnight on her passenger’s side. Afterwards, glass, car fluids, and scrap metal car parts from both vehicles were scattered throughout the intersection.

Brown-Russell was trapped inside of the Nissan Sentra. Fire fighters had to use the Jaws of Life to rescue her from the destroyed vehicle. Williams could not confirm whether Brown-Russell or McKnight and her passengers sustained any life-threatening injuries.

All drivers and passengers were transported to Nash General Hospital.