Morning Collision East of Newton Grove Leaves Johnny L. Green Dead and Another Driver Seriously Injured

 Authorities in Sampson County are investigating a two-vehicle collision that killed 65-year-old Johnny L. Green of Dunn during the morning commute Tuesday, September 15, 2026. The collision occurred on US 13 east of Newton Grove, where a westbound pickup truck crossed the center line and struck Green’s eastbound Chevrolet pickup. The circumstances remain under review as investigators work to establish the full sequence of events. The crash brought emergency crews to a busy corridor early in the day and prompted a detailed response by state investigators. Because the account concerns an active investigation, later findings could clarify details that are not yet established, including the precise reason the Dodge pickup entered the opposing lane.

According to the North Carolina State Highway Patrol investigation described in the supplied account, dispatchers received the call at about 7:30 a.m. Trooper W. A. Davis responded and determined that Green was traveling east in a 1994 Chevrolet pickup when a 2006 Dodge pickup driven by 56-year-old Christopher S. Philyaw of Princeton moved across the center line. The two trucks then collided near the middle of the roadway.

Investigators said Green attempted evasive maneuvers before impact, but the vehicles struck head-on. First responders found him unresponsive inside his truck, and he was pronounced deceased at the scene. The circumstances illustrate how quickly an ordinary morning drive can become devastating, particularly on a two-lane highway where opposing traffic is separated by a center line rather than a physical barrier.

Philyaw survived the collision but sustained serious injuries and was transported by emergency medical personnel to Cape Fear Valley Hospital in Fayetteville. Investigators reported that Philyaw was properly restrained. Green, by contrast, was not wearing a seat belt, according to the highway patrol account. Seat-belt use can affect the severity of injuries in a collision, although investigators must consider the complete circumstances before drawing conclusions about any individual outcome.

The initial investigation did not indicate that speeding was a factor, according to the supplied highway patrol findings. Investigators were still examining whether impairment may have contributed. That distinction matters because a preliminary assessment is not necessarily the final determination of what caused a roadway departure. Collision reconstruction and other investigative work can take time, especially when authorities are evaluating vehicle positions, roadway evidence, driver actions, and other circumstances surrounding a serious wreck.

For Green’s family, friends, and community in Dunn, the aftermath is more than a traffic investigation. A sudden death during a routine weekday commute can leave relatives facing grief while authorities continue the practical work of documenting what happened. At the time described in the supplied account, funeral or memorial arrangements had not been announced. Those details may be shared later by the family or funeral service providers as plans are finalized. Careful official documentation may ultimately help clarify what happened clearly.

The investigation remains important both for the people directly affected and for understanding the circumstances surrounding the collision on US 13. Authorities have identified the drivers involved and documented the reported center-line crossing, injuries, and seat-belt use, while questions about possible impairment remain unresolved. Until investigators complete their work, the clearest account is the confirmed sequence available so far: a collision occurred during the morning commute, Green died at the scene, Philyaw was seriously injured, and officials continue examining the contributing factors.