Just after sundown on Saturday, what began as an ordinary drive along Harrells Highway (NC-411) turned into a heartbreaking tragedy for families and friends in eastern North Carolina. Around 6:30 p.m., a 2006 Toyota Sequoia barreling eastbound lost control, left the roadway, and ended in a violent collision that claimed the lives of the vehicle’s two occupants.
State Highway Patrol troopers who rushed to the scene found the SUV completely ablaze against a large tree just outside the small community of Garland in Sampson County. The intensity of the fire was so severe that firefighters worked to cool hot spots before investigators could even approach. The charred shell left little behind but grim evidence of the violence of the crash.
Inside the mangled vehicle, authorities confirmed the dead were 33-year-old driver Marcedo Allen McNeil of Stedman and 39-year-old passenger Reginald K. Howard of Harrells. Both were pronounced dead at the scene. Because the fire ravaged the SUV’s interior, troopers cannot yet determine whether either man was wearing a seat belt at the time of the wreck.
Preliminary findings from the North Carolina State Highway Patrol suggest McNeil was traveling at a high rate of speed before he lost control. After veering off to the right, the SUV crossed the centerline, plunged into a roadside ditch and then blasted into a utility pole. That impact knocked down power lines and left the pole snapped in two before the SUV rocketed forward into the tree, where it erupted into flames.
The crash didn’t just devastate lives — it disrupted the community. Downed power lines left nearby residents in the dark, and local utility crews worked alongside emergency responders to make the area safe, restore electricity and remove hazards. For hours, traffic along the highway was diverted as troopers documented the scene and repair crews did their work.
Though speed is believed to have played a major role, the investigation is ongoing and troopers are still examining all factors, including the possible influence of weather, driver distraction or impairment. No other vehicles were involved, and officials said there were no additional injuries reported from the incident.
In the days ahead, friends and family in Sampson County will likely wrestle with grief, memories and unanswered questions. Law enforcement agencies are using the tragedy as a stark reminder of how quickly things can go wrong — especially on rural stretches of highway after dark. They urge drivers to obey speed limits, stay focused and always buckle up, because in a split second everything can change.
