WADE, Cumberland County, N.C., Oct. 13, 2026 — Three people were hurt, two of them seriously, in a crash early Saturday morning, October 10, on U.S. Highway 13 near Wade-Stedman Road in Cumberland County. A car and a pickup truck pulling a trailer collided shortly after 1 a.m., according to the North Carolina State Highway Patrol.
Bethany Fire Department, Wade Community Fire Department and Cumberland County EMS crews responded and found the car off the road in a ditch, resting on its nose, troopers said. The driver was trapped inside and a passenger remained in the vehicle as firefighters worked to free them. Crews began extrication while providing emergency care to both occupants until EMS personnel arrived.
Both people in the car suffered serious injuries and were taken to Cape Fear Valley Medical Center under trauma alerts, the report said. The pickup carried three people, including two adults and a young teenager. One of the adults was evaluated at the scene and also taken to the hospital.
Preliminary information from the crash scene indicates the car crossed into the oncoming lane and struck the driver's side of the pickup and trailer. The impact caused extensive damage to the trailer and scattered debris along close to one tenth of a mile of roadway. The trailer passed over the driver's side of the car during the collision.
Trooper Aaron Blue of Troop B, District 1, is investigating the crash. Our thoughts are with those who were injured, and we wish them a full recovery.
When Head-On and Crossover Crashes Are Most Likely to Happen
Crashes in which a vehicle crosses into oncoming traffic cluster at certain hours more than others. Overnight hours, particularly between midnight and sunrise, see a higher share of these collisions because traffic is lighter and some drivers push higher speeds on open rural highways. Darkness also narrows a driver's field of view and shortens the time available to react if a vehicle drifts out of its lane.
Fatigue plays a large role in late-night and early-morning crossover crashes. A driver who has been awake for many hours, or who is driving home after a late shift, can experience lapses in attention similar to impairment, even without alcohol involved. Rural two-lane highways add another factor: few barriers separate opposing lanes, so a brief drift can quickly become a head-on or near head-on impact.
Weekend overnight hours carry added risk because they combine lower traffic volume with a higher likelihood of drowsy or distracted driving. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, an estimated 6,138,359 police-reported traffic crashes occurred in 2023. Rural highways like US-13 see fewer crashes overall than urban roads, but the ones that happen at night tend to involve higher speeds and more serious injuries.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do most car accidents happen?
A large share of serious crashes occur on rural, undivided highways where speeds are higher and there is little or no barrier between opposing lanes of traffic.
What injuries are most common in head-on or crossover crashes?
These collisions often cause head, chest and lower-extremity injuries from the force of impact, along with injuries from being thrown against the interior of the vehicle.
What typically causes a vehicle to cross into oncoming traffic?
Common factors include driver fatigue, distraction, impairment, and loss of control from speed or road conditions, though a specific cause is determined only after investigators review the scene.
What to Do After a Car Crash in Wade, North Carolina
If you're involved in a crash on a highway like those around Wade, move to a safe area if possible and call 911 right away. Even if injuries seem minor at first, it's worth getting checked by a medical provider, since some injuries from a collision don't show symptoms immediately.
Stay at the scene until law enforcement arrives and get a copy of the crash report once it's available. Take photos if you're able to safely do so, and get contact information for anyone who witnessed what happened. These steps can help clarify what occurred and support any insurance claims that follow.
