One dead, four injured in head-on Catawba County crash: Highway Patrol

According to the North Carolina State Highway Patrol, the collision happened around 9:10 p.m. on Settlemyre Bridge Road near White Oak Drive.

Troopers said a 2019 Nissan Altima driven by Christopher Shea Houser, 40, of Newton, crossed the centerline and slammed head-on into a westbound 2018 Infiniti Q50.

Houser died at the scene. Troopers said he was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash.

The driver of the Infiniti, identified as Isrrael Suarez-Hernandez, 22, also of Newton, suffered critical injuries and was airlifted to a nearby hospital. An adult passenger and two children in the car were also hospitalized with life-threatening injuries, troopers said.

Highway Patrol said that speed and impairment appear to have played a role in the crash. Settlemyre Bridge Road was shut down for several hours as investigators worked at the scene.

No charges will be filed, according to NCSHP.