Woman killed after van hits runners at Grandfather Mountain

LINVILLE, N.C. (AP) — Authorities say a woman was killed and three people were injured when a van ferrying runners to a race in North Carolina crashed into a crowd.

Troopers say the woman killed was 72-year-old Julie Holderness, of Winston-Salem. The three other runners were seriously hurt. Their identities have not been released.

News outlets report Thursday’s accident occurred at an Avery County intersection prior to the start of a road race called “The Bear” that’s part of the annual Highland Games at Grandfather Mountain.

Avery County Sheriff Mike Henley told The Avery Journal Times that it appeared the driver, who was working the race, accidentally hit the accelerator instead of the brakes and struck some people standing on a sidewalk.