79-year-old woman killed in Johnston County crash, another woman charged

WILLOW SPRINGS, N.C. (WNCN) — A 79-year woman was killed in a car crash in Johnston County late Wednesday morning, the North Carolina State Highway Patrol said. The collision happened shortly after 11 a.m. on McLemore Road near Lassiter Farms Lane near Willow Springs. Troopers were sent to the scene, where they found two cars that had been involved in a head-on crash. NCSHP said their preliminary investigation showed that a 2013 Chevrolet sedan going eastbound on McLemore Road crossed the centerline and crashed head-on into a Chevrolet Malibu that was traveling westbound. The driver of the Malibu, 79-year-old Patricia Ann Mailile of Garner, was pronounced dead at the scene. Troopers said Mailile was wearing a seatbelt and was the only person in her car. The driver of the other car, 49-year-old Jennifer Cameron, was taken to WakeMed Raleigh to be treated for "serious but non-life-threatening injuries," NCSHP said. She was also wearing a seatbelt and was the only occupant of her vehicle. Troopers said Cameron has been charged with misdemeanor death by motor vehicle and left of center. In relation to the death by motor vehicle charge, law enforcement said Cameron's blood will be analyzed to "rule out any additional contributing factors," and her cell phone will also be analyzed to see if use of that was a factor in the deadly crash. "Speed and alcohol are not believed to be contributing factors," NCSHP said in a release. "Inattention and driving left of center are considered contributing factors." As a result of the collision, McLemore Road was closed for about two and a half hours, troopers said. It reopened shortly before 1:30 p.m. The investigation remains open and ongoing. Anyone with information about the crash is asked to call Highway Patrol Johnston County Division at (919) 934-2186 or (919) 733-4400 and ask for primary investigator Trooper T. Cole or Sgt. N.D. White.