Burke County, NC (December 25, 2020) – A 30-year-old woman from Winston-Salem was among the injured victims in a crash that left a woman dead on Christmas Day in Burke County. The crash occurred around 1:00 a.m. in the eastbound lanes of Interstate 40 near mile marker 108.
Troopers with the North Carolina State Highway Patrol responded to the crash scene. According to a report, 39-year-old Monica Torres-Garcia was operating a 2002 Ford F-150 eastbound on I-40. Torres-Garcia was involved in an argument with someone inside the vehicle and began driving the truck in a reckless manner. The Ford sideswiped a 2002 Chevrolet Trailblazer, causing both vehicles to crash into a guardrail. Both Torres-Garcia and the driver of the Trailblazer, 30-year-old Amanda Palumbo were ejected from their vehicles.
Torres-Garcia died at the crash scene while Palumbo was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Four children inside the Trailblazer were also transported with non-life-threatening injuries. At least one of the children suffered serious injuries.
Police are still investigating the crash at this time. It is believed that alcohol may have been a contributing factor in the crash.
An investigation is ongoing. There is no further information available.
Our thoughts go out to those affected by this fatal car accident in Burke County. We hope that the injured victims are able to make a complete and speedy recovery.
North Carolina Car Accidents 
According to statistics published by the North Carolina Department of Transportation, there are more than 300,000 reported car accidents in North Carolina each year. These accidents take place throughout the state every day, on busy highways and quiet city streets. No one is ever truly safe from being injured in a car accident and all motorists must remember to utilize caution when traveling on the roadways.
If you have been hurt in a North Carolina car accident, you should seek the assistance of a competent and skilled North Carolina car accident attorney as soon as possible. Following the crash, you are no doubt experiencing a range of emotions from anxiety, to anger, and frustration. Your future may feel uncertain as you deal with painful injuries, costly medical bills, and a long road to recovery. It is important to make sure that your case is handled properly in order to help secure your future.
Many crash victims make the mistake of trying to handle their own claims. This results in a settlement that is far less than what your claim is worth. The insurance company will undervalue your case in an effort to obtain a quick settlement. The adjuster is not working for you; their goal is to maximize profits for the company. Once you sign a settlement agreement, you lose your right to continue negotiating your claim or to file a lawsuit against the negligent driver for your injuries. Before you sign anything or agree to a settlement, you should have legal representation on your side. Your attorney can deal with the insurance company and ensure you receive the compensation you deserve.
Our team is here to help you at any time. We provide a free consultation and case evaluation for all potential and prospective clients. We also handle most cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning that there is no payment until we obtain a recovery on your behalf. To schedule your free appointment with a member of our team, please contact us via the link on our website or give us a call at (833) 623-0042.
Note: Burton Law Firm utilizes a variety of outside sources in the creation of these accident news posts. These sources include news bulletins, police reports, first-hand accounts, news stories, as well as additional outside sources. For this reason, the details surrounding this accident have not been independently verified by our office or writing staff. If you find information that is not correct about an accident that we have written about, please contact our firm as soon as possible so that we can promptly correct the information. If you would prefer that we remove the story, contact us directly and we will make every effort to remove the story in a timely manner.
Disclaimer: Our team of personal injury lawyers at Burton Law Firm has taken pride in being active members of our local business community for more than 8 years. We are always striving to improve the quality of life for our community members and improve the overall safety and well-being of all North Carolinians. We hope that by providing this information about the dangers of driving that we will bring added awareness and drivers will use increased caution when operating a motor vehicle. Our thoughts are with everyone who may have been affected by this incident. This post is not a solicitation for business. None of the information in this post should be misconstrued as medical or legal advice. The photos in this post are not a depiction of the actual accident scene.