Executive Summary
- Dakotah Dunbar, 29, died in a single-vehicle crash Tuesday morning in Newport.
- Troopers report the vehicle was traveling over 100 mph in a 55 mph zone prior to the crash.
- The incident occurred on Nine Mile Road near the intersection with Gale Creek Road.
- Authorities identified excessive speed and lack of seatbelt use as contributing factors.
A 29-year-old motorist was killed Tuesday morning in Newport after losing control of a vehicle while traveling at speeds exceeding 100 mph, according to the North Carolina State Highway Patrol.
State troopers identified the driver as Dakotah Dunbar. Investigators determined that Dunbar was operating a 2024 Toyota Corolla northbound on Nine Mile Road, near Gale Creek Road, at the time of the incident.
According to the Highway Patrol report, the vehicle was traveling at more than 100 mph in a designated 55 mph zone when it veered off the roadway. The vehicle subsequently struck three trees. Authorities confirmed that Dunbar succumbed to injuries sustained in the collision.
Investigators cited excessive speed and the failure to wear a seatbelt as the primary contributing factors to the fatal crash. First responders temporarily rerouted traffic in the area to clear the scene, but the roadway has since been reopened.
Public Safety Impact
This fatality underscores the critical correlation between excessive speed and crash severity on local thoroughfares. By documenting the absence of seatbelt usage and the extreme velocity involved—nearly double the posted limit—investigators have closed the preliminary findings on the cause of the accident. Such incidents often prompt law enforcement to reassess traffic enforcement strategies in high-risk zones to mitigate future vehicular fatalities.
