UPDATE: Deputy, victim identified in fatal Columbus County crash

COLUMBUS COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — According to the Columbus County Sheriff’s Office, one of their deputies was involved in a deadly crash this morning with another vehicle around 7:15 a.m. They said it happened on Princess Ann Road in Cerro Gordo.

A spokesman with the Highway Patrol said the deputy was driving on Princess Ann Road when he entered a curve and drifted left of the center into the path of a GMC pickup truck. Troopers said the truck driver, Robert Brownlee, 30, veered into the shoulder to avoid the deputy but was sideswiped.

The deputy, Ryan Gibson, sustained non-life threatening injuries.

According to a sheriff’s office spokeswoman, Deputy Gibson joined the sheriff’s office in August of 2015. She said he was not actively engaged in a pursuit at the time of the crash and has been released from the hospital. There’s no word on whether the deputy has been placed on leave or is still on active duty. WWAY has requested the employment status for the deputy, which is public record.

Troopers are continuing their investigation, but they said neither speed nor alcohol were factors in the crash.