Jonathan Zacarias, Gabriel Zacarias, and Beancy Flores (14) Killed in Wrong-Way Head-On Crash on I-40 in Sampson County, NC – Investigation Ongoing

NEWTON GROVE, N.C. – A serene early Saturday morning on Interstate 40 near the small town of Newton Grove in Sampson County was shattered by a catastrophic wrong-way collision that claimed the lives of three people, including a 14-year-old girl, and left another fighting for his life. The North Carolina State Highway Patrol (NCSHP) continues to investigate the precise circumstances that led a Chevrolet Camaro to travel eastbound in westbound lanes, resulting in a fiery, head-on impact that has left a community in mourning.

The victims have been identified as Jonathan Toxtle Zacarias, 21, of Fayetteville; Gabriel Toxtle Zacarias, 20, also of Fayetteville; and Beancy Rivas Flores, 14, a passenger in the second vehicle. The driver of the Honda Accord, whose name has not been released pending family notification, remains hospitalized with serious injuries after being airlifted from the scene.

The Crash: A Timeline of Tragedy

According to the preliminary report released by First Sergeant J.D. Eudy of the NCSHP, the sequence of events began at approximately 2:41 a.m. on Saturday. At that hour, Interstate 40—a major east-west artery through eastern North Carolina—is typically sparsely populated, dominated by overnight freight trucks and early-morning shift workers. However, the darkness and reduced visibility likely contributed to the sheer violence of the collision.

Investigators state that a red Chevrolet Camaro, driven by Jonathan Zacarias and occupied by his brother Gabriel Zacarias, was traveling westbound in the eastbound lanes of I-40. The exact point at which the Camaro entered the wrong side of the divided highway remains under scrutiny. Troopers are examining whether the driver entered via an off-ramp, crossed a median crossover, or merged from a rest area in the wrong direction.

The Camaro collided head-on with a black Honda Accord traveling eastbound in the correct lane near the 344-mile marker, just south of Newton Grove. The impact occurred in a flash of crushing metal and glass. Witnesses who were traveling eastbound behind the Honda described seeing headlights approaching them in the wrong lane seconds before the crash.

“I saw two lights coming directly at us, then swerve into the left lane ahead. There was a sickening crunch and then sparks,” said one truck driver who pulled over and spoke to troopers on the scene, requesting anonymity. “There was nothing anyone could do. It was instantaneous.”

Upon arrival, Sampson County EMS and Newton Grove Fire Department crews found a devastating scene. Both vehicles were mangled beyond recognition. The Camaro had spun sideways before coming to rest in the median, while the Accord had been pushed backward nearly 50 yards into the eastbound shoulder.

The Victims: Lives Cut Short

Jonathan Toxtle Zacarias (21) and Gabriel Toxtle Zacarias (20)

Born just 18 months apart, Jonathan and Gabriel were more than brothers; they were inseparable. Growing up in Fayetteville’s growing Hispanic community, the Zacarias brothers were known for their close-knit bond and their shared passion for automotive mechanics. Friends say Jonathan, the older brother, was the cautious one, while Gabriel, 20, was the life of the party. Ironically, it was Jonathan who was behind the wheel of the Camaro on Saturday morning.

“They were just heading home after a late shift at a distribution center,” said a family friend who spoke on behalf of the grieving parents, who requested privacy. “They did everything together. For the family to lose both sons in one moment… there are no words.”

Both brothers were pronounced dead at the scene due to blunt-force trauma. The Sampson County Medical Examiner’s office has completed preliminary examinations, but final toxicology reports are pending as part of the ongoing investigation—a standard procedure in fatal wrong-way collisions.

Beancy Rivas Flores (14)

The youngest victim, Beancy Rivas Flores, was an eighth-grader with a bright smile and a love for soccer and TikTok dances. She was a passenger in the back seat of the Honda Accord. According to relatives, Beancy had spent the evening with family friends in Raleigh and was being driven back to her home in Clinton, North Carolina, when tragedy struck.

Beancy’s death has sent shockwaves through the small community of Clinton, where she was known as a bubbly, honors-roll student at Clinton Middle School. The school district has already announced that crisis counselors will be available when classes resume.

“She was just a child. She had her whole life ahead of her,” sobbed a neighbor outside the Flores family home. “She used to babysit my kids. She was responsible, sweet, and full of joy. To die like this, on a highway, because someone was driving the wrong way… it’s not fair.”

Beancy was pronounced dead at the scene. Her body has been transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Raleigh.

The Injured Driver

The driver of the Honda Accord, a man in his late 30s whose name has been withheld due to medical privacy laws, remains in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at ECU Health Medical Center in Greenville. A hospital spokesperson described his condition as “serious but stable” as of Sunday afternoon. He suffered multiple fractures, internal injuries, and a severe concussion. Family members have gathered at the hospital, where they are keeping a 24-hour vigil. He is reportedly the uncle of Beancy Flores and had been caring for her in the wake of her parents’ recent separation.

The Investigation: Unanswered Questions

As of this writing, the North Carolina State Highway Patrol has not released a definitive cause for the wrong-way entry. The investigation is being led by Trooper K. Williams of the NCSHP’s Collision Reconstruction Unit, which uses 3D laser scanning technology to map the scene down to the millimeter.

Key questions remain:

1. How did the Camaro get on the wrong side? Troopers are reviewing footage from nearby traffic cameras and private surveillance from a truck stop at the 341-mile marker. They are also checking for signage malfunctions or missing “Wrong Way” signs at the nearest interchange.
2. Was impairment a factor? Authorities have not yet released toxicology results for Jonathan Zacarias. While there is no immediate indication of alcohol or drug use, it is standard protocol in fatal crashes to test for both. The NCSHP has stated that speed may have also been a contributing factor, given the extent of the damage.
3. Were seatbelts used? Preliminary reports suggest that all three deceased individuals were wearing seatbelts, though the force of a head-on collision at highway speeds—often equivalent to crashing into a immovable wall at 60+ mph—can overwhelm safety restraints.

The Aftermath: Highway Closure and Community Response

Interstate 40 eastbound was completely shut down for nearly seven hours following the crash. Traffic was diverted at Exit 341 (Newton Grove) onto U.S. Highway 701 and then back onto I-40 at Exit 355. The closure caused significant delays for early-morning travelers heading to the coast, including many families beginning their Easter weekend getaways.

By 10:00 a.m., crews had completed the on-site investigation, and both vehicles were towed to a state inspection facility in Raleigh for further forensic analysis. The highway was fully reopened by 11:30 a.m.

In the days since the crash, memorials have begun to appear. At the 344-mile marker, a small wooden cross now stands in the grass, decorated with artificial flowers, a soccer ball, and a handwritten note in Spanish that reads, “Que descansen en paz, Jonatan, Gabriel y Beancy. El cielo ganó tres ángeles esta semana.” (Rest in peace, Jonathan, Gabriel, and Beancy. Heaven gained three angels this week.)

Wrong-Way Crashes: A Persistent Highway Danger

The Sampson County tragedy is a grim reminder of a persistent and often fatal phenomenon on American highways. According to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, wrong-way crashes are rare—comprising only about 3% of all highway accidents—but they are disproportionately deadly. Approximately 75% of wrong-way collisions result in a fatality, compared to just 2% of other types of crashes.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has long advocated for more widespread use of “wrong-way detection systems,” which use thermal or radar sensors to detect a vehicle entering an exit ramp and then flash LED-lit “WRONG WAY” signs directly at the driver. North Carolina has piloted these systems in a few high-risk urban areas, such as Charlotte and Raleigh, but they are not yet standard on rural stretches of I-40 in Sampson County.

Senior age and alcohol impairment are the two most common contributing factors in wrong-way crashes nationwide. However, in this case, both victims in the Camaro were in their early twenties, making extreme intoxication less likely but not impossible. Fatigue is another possibility. Jonathan Zacarias reportedly worked late shifts, and driving while drowsy can impair reaction times as severely as alcohol.

Legal and Financial Repercussions

Families of the victims now face not only emotional devastation but also complex legal and financial challenges. The estate of Jonathan Zacarias could potentially be held liable for the wrongful deaths of Gabriel Zacarias (his own passenger), Beancy Flores, and the injuries sustained by the Honda driver. However, if Jonathan also died in the crash, his insurance policy (if any) may be the only source of compensation.

Legal experts note that North Carolina follows a “contributory negligence” rule, one of only a few states remaining with such a strict standard. If the driver of the Honda is found to have even 1% contributed to the crash (e.g., by failing to swerve quickly enough), he may be barred from recovering damages. However, given that he was traveling lawfully in his lane, that outcome is unlikely.

The Flores and Zacarias families have both been contacted by victim advocacy groups. A GoFundMe campaign organized by the Clinton Hispanic Church has already raised over $15,000 to cover Beancy’s funeral expenses and the Honda driver’s mounting medical bills.

Moving Forward: Calls for Action

Local leaders are beginning to speak out. Sampson County Commissioner Jerol Kivett released a statement Sunday evening:

“Our hearts are broken for the Zacarias and Flores families. Losing a 14-year-old child is an unthinkable tragedy. We urge the NCDOT [North Carolina Department of Transportation] to conduct an immediate safety audit of I-40 interchanges in Sampson County. We must ensure that ‘Wrong Way’ signage is visible, reflective, and, where possible, augmented with flashing beacons. No family should have to receive a knock on the door at 3 a.m. because someone made a wrong turn.”

The North Carolina State Highway Patrol has stated that a full report, including toxicology results and a final determination of fault, will be released within the next 60 to 90 days. In the meantime, they ask anyone who witnessed the crash or saw the red Camaro traveling prior to 2:41 a.m. on Saturday to contact the NCSHP’s Raleigh district office.

A Community in Mourning

As the sun sets over Sampson County, the makeshift memorial at mile marker 344 flickers with candlelight. A group of teenagers, friends of Beancy Flores, stand in a circle, their faces illuminated by the small flames. One of them holds a cellphone playing a soft ballad. They don’t speak much. They don’t need to.

Across town in Fayetteville, the Zacarias family sits in a living room filled with relatives. The silence is punctuated only by the occasional sob. Two empty chairs. Two pairs of work boots by the door. Two lives that ended not with a gradual fade, but with a single, devastating impact on a dark highway.

And in a hospital room in Greenville, a man in his late 30s opens his eyes for the first time since the crash. A nurse leans in. He tries to speak, but his throat is raw from the air tube. He mouths two words: “¿Beancy está bien?” (Is Beancy okay?) The nurse looks at the doctor. Neither answers. The room goes still.

The investigation continues. But for the families of Jonathan Zacarias, Gabriel Zacarias, and Beancy Rivas Flores, the questions don’t matter as much anymore. Only the absence remains.