CLINTON, N.C. — A quiet Sampson County morning turned tragic Friday when two young people died in a violent head-on crash on busy NC Highway 24 just east of Clinton. The victims, Christopher Leonardo Avila Gomez, 18, of Clinton and 19-year-old Isabel Marie Hepworth of Faison, were killed instantly in the collision, according to the North Carolina Highway Patrol.
The wreck happened around 10:42 a.m. about 1.9 miles east of Clinton when a gray 2015 Honda Accord veered off the road while trying to pass a Toyota pickup. Troopers say the driver lost control, ran off the left side of the highway, then crossed back into the eastbound lane and slammed head-on into a large commercial truck.
The semi-tractor-trailer, a 2025 International pulling an unloaded lowboy trailer, was headed east at the time of the crash. The force of the impact was so heavy that the Honda was thrown off the road into a ditch and the tractor-trailer came to rest stopped in the middle of NC-24.
The driver of the big rig, 45-year-old Timothy Andre Stedman of Fuquay-Varina, walked away without injuries, troopers confirmed. He remained at the scene and cooperated with the ongoing investigation.
Emergency responders worked quickly, but there was nothing they could do for Christopher and Isabel. Both were pronounced dead at the scene. Friends, family, and classmates described the victims as promising young adults whose lives were cut tragically short.
People who knew Christopher said he had recently graduated and was full of plans for the future. Isabel was remembered as someone with a warm smile and bright spirit, qualities that drew others to her. Their sudden deaths have struck a deep chord in the tight-knit community, where funeral preparations and remembrances are already beginning.
The Highway Patrol said the investigation into the crash remains open, with troopers looking into factors like vehicle speed, road conditions, and driver behavior. No charges have been announced.
Friends and neighbors are planning vigils and online tributes for the teens. Messages of support are pouring in for both families on social media, reflecting a community in mourning and hoping for healing after an unthinkable loss.
