Gastonia, NC (September 24, 2020) – A 39-year-old woman from Shelby was killed in a head-on crash in Gastonia on Thursday, September 23rd. The crash happened just after 10:00 p.m. in the 2100 block of N. New Hope Road.
According to the Gastonia Police Department, 39-year-old Kristen Gayle Townsend of Shelby was traveling northbound in a 2002 Ford Explorer. At the same time, 42-year-old Shauna Peti Burger of Gastonia was traveling southbound in a 2014 Ford Explorer. The two vehicles collided head-on with one another. Townsend sustained critical injuries and died at the scene. Burger suffered critical injuries and was transported to CaroMont Regional Medical Center where she is currently listed in critical condition. At this time, it is not clear which car crossed the center line and the cause of the accident is not known at this time.
The crash is still under investigation. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Gastonia Police Department at 704-842-5168.
We wish to extend our most sincere condolences to the family of Kirsten Townsend following this tragic fatal accident in Gastonia. We hope that Shauna Burger is able to make a full recovery from her injuries.
Fatal Accidents in North Carolina 
The number of traffic accidents is on the rise in North Carolina. According to the Department of Transportation, the annual number of crashes in our state has risen by about 50,000 in the past five years. In 2018, there were nearly 1,500 fatal car accidents. In addition, many more motorists were seriously hurt in crashes that were not their fault. A North Carolina car accident can have devastating impacts on family members who are suddenly forced to move forward and face the sudden loss of a loved one.
The seriousness of a particular accident depends on a variety of factors, including the speed at which the crash took place, the types of vehicles involved, the number of vehicles involved, the mechanism of the crash, and the safety equipment in each vehicle. All of these factors can play a major role in determining whether drivers will walk away from the accident or whether they will face severe injuries or, in the worst-case scenario, whether the collision will be fatal.
If you have lost a loved one in a car accident in North Carolina, you should seek to protect your legal rights as soon as possible. Our state’s wrongful death statute allows the deceased victim’s next-of-kin or personal representative to file a legal claim against a negligent driver who was responsible for the death of their family member. These claims can seek compensation for a variety of areas, including lost wages, funeral and medical bills, loss of companionship, and more. Although no amount of money can ever replace the loss of a loved one, the compensation that you receive can help you deal with unexpected financial burdens and obtain the justice that you deserve. At Burton Law Firm, our North Carolina wrongful death attorneys are here for you during your time of need.
We offer free consultations and case evaluations to all potential clients. To schedule your appointment with a member of our team, please contact us at https://www.jmburtonlaw.com/contact-us/ or give us a call any time 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.
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