By Travis Dockery
389 Country Editor
On Friday, June 14th, Clay County citizen Carlos Olvera lost his life in a motorcycle crash in the Pine Log Community. The Clay County Sheriff's Office responded to the scene along with the North Carolina Highway Patrol.
The initial accident report stated that Olvera crossed the centerline, striking a Ford Maverick traveling in the opposite direction. Early on in the investigation, Trooper Eric Watson acknowledged that he was aware of a rumor that there was a third vehicle involved.
In the days and weeks following the tragedy, members of the community were vocal online about their frustrations with what they considered a lack of effort in the investigation. Many pointed fingers at the Clay County Sheriff's office.
On July 9th, 389 Country reached out to Sheriff Mark Buchanan for clarity on the situation. When asked why the investigation was turned over the the NCHP, Buchanan said, "The NC State Highway Patrol has original jurisdiction and the responsibility to work all cases involving traffic fatalities.
They have the training, resources, and expertise to work on serious highway-related cases that The Clay County Sheriff's Office does not have. The Highway Patrol even has a specialized unit that is assigned to reconstruct traffic fatalities based on available evidence at accident scenes. Officers with the Sheriff's Office responded to the scene of this tragedy to secure the scene and provide traffic control until Emergency Medical Services and the Highway Patrol arrived."
Buchanan acknowledged that the highway patrol kept him briefed on the generalities of the investigation, which was done as a professional courtesy, not mandated by law.
The CCSO did not have any press releases or updates because, according to Buchanan, "It is not appropriate for the Sheriff's Office to make any press releases relating to cases that we did not investigate."
Later in the afternoon, the NCHP said that Overa's case was effectively closed with no new evidence to contradict the inital findings. First sergeant KW Milligan told WJRB that the agency has "chased down every lead and there is nothing concrete that a third vehicle made any kind of contact."
"Everyone here at the Sheriff's Office sends our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Carlos Olvera," said Buchanan. "No parent should ever have to outlive a child that was so dearly loved as Carlos."
Commentaires