Newton Grove, NC (September 15, 2026) - Johnny L. Green, 65, of Dunn, died at the scene of a head-on pickup collision that seriously injured another driver, according to the North Carolina State Highway Patrol.

Troopers responded at approximately 7:30 a.m. Tuesday to U.S. 13 east of Newton Grove, near Circle Drive in Sampson County, North Carolina.

According to troopers, a westbound 2006 Dodge pickup crossed left of center as Green approached in an eastbound 1994 Chevrolet pickup. Green swerved left in an attempt to avoid the Dodge, and the pickups collided near the center of the roadway.

Green was found unresponsive and died from his injuries at the scene. The Dodge driver was taken to Cape Fear Valley Hospital with serious injuries. Troopers said the Dodge driver was wearing a seatbelt and Green was not.

Images from the scene showed both pickups with heavy damage. One was in the roadway, and the other was off to the side.

The Highway Patrol said Tuesday that investigators were examining possible impairment and did not believe speeding contributed to the crash. No charges had been announced as of Tuesday afternoon.

Medical Payments Coverage Does Not Depend on a Fault Finding

The Dodge driver’s hospitalization after this pickup collision raises a practical concern about expenses while investigators examine the cause. An injured driver does not have to wait for a fault determination before checking for purchased Medical Payments coverage, often called MedPay. This optional auto coverage can assist with qualifying medical expenses regardless of fault, subject to the policy’s terms and limits. The reported facts do not establish whether the hospitalized driver had this coverage.

A hospitalized driver can ask a car accident lawyer how a purchased MedPay provision would be checked against actual treatment while responsibility for the U.S. 13 collision remains a separate question. The insurer’s answer depends on the person, expenses and policy terms. That coverage inquiry can begin before the fault question is resolved, but a listed benefit is not a promise that every bill will be paid.

Check Medical Expense Coverage During the Investigation

For a driver facing hospital expenses after a pickup collision like this one, a practical next step is to ask the auto insurer whether Medical Payments coverage was purchased and whether it applies to the injured occupant and hospital expenses. If it does, ask about the available limit and what is needed to request payment. The decision to check that coverage need not wait for investigators to finish their work.