Driver involved with fatal accident faces other charges

Published 5:35 pm Wednesday, October 9, 2019

A Troy woman involved in the accident that killed Norwood resident Kimberly Elaine Ingold is facing traffic charges from a previous incident.

Bethany Johnson Haywood is due to appear in court in Montgomery County Friday to face traffic charges of speeding and reckless driving to endanger, as well as an alleged infraction for improper equipment (speedometer), after being pulled over May 13, according to online court records.

Haywood was allegedly traveling at 83 mph in a 55 mph zone when she was pulled over, according to Trooper N.J. Talley’s comments in the citation.

Haywood told Talley she had sped up to pass another vehicle.

“… As she was trying to pass the Jeep, they sped up, causing her to increase her speed,” Talley wrote in the report.

She did not own the car she was driving, but planned to buy it, and said the speedometer was not functioning properly. Haywood was “polite and respectful,” according to the report.

The trooper also responded to the accident involving Haywood and Ingold last month.

Talley said the Highway Patrol is waiting for results of a blood test, but that Haywood will likely face charges from the Sept. 8 accident.

“There will be charges coming,” Talley said. “We’re just waiting for results to come back, and that will determine the severity of the charges. The results will kind of tell us which direction to go in.”

The test results will come from the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigations. The test was put in as a rush order, Talley said.

According to the accident report by the Highway Patrol, Haywood was heading east on N.C. Highway 24 in Biscoe when she collided with two cars driving west, one driven by Ingold.

Johnson’s truck crossed the center line and struck a Nissan before hitting Ingold’s Mazda, killing Ingold.

The accident report lists four witnesses to the crash.

According to the report, all three vehicles involved in the accident were traveling at about 55 mph.

Haywood was estimated to be driving at 55 mph when she struck the Nissan, which was going at about 40 mph at the time of impact. Ingold was driving at about 50 mph when she was struck.

Haywood’s truck was owned by Hurley Backhoe Service, Inc. in Star.

Ingold was a teacher with Anson County Schools.

Imari Scarbrough is a freelance contributor for The Stanly News and Press.