Three dead after Brunswick County crash

BRUNSWICK COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — The North Carolina Highway Patrol says that three people were killed and one was injured early Saturday morning after a pickup truck flipped over in Brunswick County.

Highway Patrol said the crash happened at about 2:30 in the morning on Malmo Loop Road in Leland. A 2001 Chevrolet pickup truck ran off the road, hit some posts at a church and overturned.The truck rolled twice before stopping completely.

The truck’s driver, Michael Eric Johnston, along with two passengers, Aimee West Brown and Jennifer Wood Sessoms, were thrown from the vehicle and were pronounced dead at the scene.

Randall James Sessoms,the third passenger involved, was taken to the New Hanover Regional Medical Center and is said to be in stable condition.

Residents in the area of the crash site say they live in a very quiet area. They say the news of the fatal crash comes as a surprise to them because this sort of thing doesn’t happen often in that area.

To other residents the tragedy hits closer to home. One resident has connections with two of the people involved.

Highway Patrol says the accident is still under investigation, but they believe that alcohol and high speed were a factor in the crash.