Couple, 5-year-old drown when car runs off road near Mount Olive

GOLDSBORO, N.C. (AP) — Three people drowned yesterday when their car ran off state Highway 55 and plunged into a creek.

Authorities say 23-year-old Vicente Perez, 47-year-old Flora Velasquez and her 5-year-old son Daniel were pronounced dead at the scene. It happened in Seven Springs, located near Mount Olive.

Highway Patrol Trooper A.R. Fowler says it isn't clear why Velasquez ran off the road. He says it appears Velasquez never touched the brakes.

Neither of the adults were wearing seat belts and Fowler says it doesn't look like the boy was properly restrained either.

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