A 21-year-old North Carolina man died just one day before his 22nd birthday in a car crash in Charlotte.
Darian Goolsby crashed on I-485 between South Boulevard and I-77.
The single-vehicle crash happened after his 2013 Hyundai hydroplaned and struck the concrete median wall separating lanes on the highway.
He exited his car after the accident and that’s when another car hit his vehicle, which then slammed into Goolsby and killed him.
A graduate of Northwest Cabarrus, Goolsby was studying to be a sports analyst at Methodist University.
Family members noted that a driver stopped to try to help Goolsby before he died.
Birthday Party
Friends gathered on Dec. 16, the day after the crash, to celebrate Goolsby’s birthday.“It was really touching to watch those kids do that and celebrate his birthday,” said Roberts. “I have not accepted it yet. I loved him as if he was my own son.”
A balloon release is scheduled for 5 p.m. on Dec. 21 to honor him.
No Charges
North Carolina State Highway Patrol said that the driver who drove into Goolsby’s vehicle was not hurt.The crash took place around 5 a.m. and the roadway was closed until just before 9:30 a.m.
There was heavy rain in the Charlotte area on Saturday.
Condolences
People flooded Goolsby’s Facebook page with condolences.“You been a good grandson you will be miss[ed],” said Margaret Rollison.
“Happy Birthday to my cuz May you RIP FAMILY WILL MISS YOU!” said Frances Steven.
“This weekend was very hard for me as I lost a brother but gained an Angel in Darian Montel Goolsby. I know you will be watching over me as well as all of your family, friends, and people who loved you because it was impossible not to do so,” added Justin Whitner.
Fatal Car Crashes
According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, analyzing data from the Department of Transportation, there were 37,461 deaths from car accidents in 2016, the last year full data is available for.The deaths occurred across 34,439 fatal motor vehicle accidents. The number means 11.6 deaths per 100,000 people and 1.16 deaths per 100 million miles traveled, although those numbers can vary widely across states.
In North Carolina, there were 1,450 deaths from car crashes, equaling 14.3 deaths per 100,000 population and 1.26 deaths per 100 million vehicle miles traveled.
The majority of fatal accidents are single-vehicle crashes, the institute noted.