Six Injured, Including Unrestrained Toddler, in NC 96 Crash Near Zebulon

Six people were rushed to nearby hospitals following a two-vehicle collision on N.C. 96 about four miles north of Zebulon just after 7:30 p.m. Sunday, March 8, with the most alarming detail being the presence of an unrestrained 1-year-old among those injured.

North Carolina State Highway Patrol troopers responded to the scene and reported that an Acura was among the vehicles involved in the crash, though the full circumstances of how the collision unfolded were not immediately available from the initial report.

The stretch of N.C. 96 north of Zebulon is a familiar corridor for eastern Wake County and Johnston County commuters, running through largely rural terrain where speed limits are higher and emergency response times can be longer than in more densely populated areas of the county.

Child passenger safety remains a persistent concern for law enforcement across North Carolina. State law requires all children under age 16 to be properly secured in a vehicle, and children under 8 years old and under 80 pounds must be buckled into an appropriate child restraint system. An unrestrained 1-year-old in a crash at highway speeds faces dramatically elevated risk of serious or fatal injury compared to a properly secured child.

The six injured were transported to hospitals in the area following the Sunday evening collision. The severity of each person's injuries was not detailed in the initial report from troopers.

The North Carolina State Highway Patrol continues to investigate the crash. Anyone with information about the incident can contact the Highway Patrol's district office.