Wade, NC (October 10, 2026) - Three people were injured, two seriously, when a car and a pickup truck pulling a trailer collided shortly after 1 a.m. Saturday on U.S. Highway 13 near Wade-Stedman Road in Wade, Cumberland County, according to the North Carolina State Highway Patrol.

Preliminary information from the scene indicated that the car crossed into the opposing lane and struck the driver's side of the pickup and trailer. The trailer passed over the driver's side of the car. The collision extensively damaged the trailer and spread debris across nearly one tenth of a mile of roadway.

Bethany Fire Department, Wade Community Fire Department and Cumberland County EMS responded. Troopers said crews found the car in a ditch with its nose pointed downward. The driver was trapped, and a passenger remained inside while firefighters worked to free them. Crews began extrication and provided emergency care to both occupants before EMS arrived.

Both people in the car suffered serious injuries and were transported to Cape Fear Valley Medical Center under trauma alerts. The pickup carried two adults and a young teenager. One adult in the pickup was evaluated at the scene and also taken to the hospital.

The initial account identified North Carolina State Highway Patrol Trooper Aaron Blue of Troop B, District 1, as the investigator assigned to the crash.

Emergency Care Began Before EMS Arrived

When firefighters provide care during a rescue, a later conversation about treatment should include that stage, not begin automatically with the ambulance ride. In this collision, crews provided emergency care to both car occupants before Cumberland County EMS arrived. For someone trying to understand their own care after a similar rescue, a useful question for the treating team is whether information about that early treatment is included in the medical history they are using.

Describe what you remember receiving and who appeared to provide it, without guessing the name of a procedure or medication. If part of the rescue is unclear to you, say so. Ask the treating team whether clarification from the responding agency would help answer your treatment question. The purpose is to connect care given at the scene with care given afterward, not to assume that information was lost during the transfer.

When discussing emergency-treatment expenses with a car accident attorney, explain the care received at the scene as well as afterward. Accident-related medical expenses may be part of an injury claim, depending on responsibility and applicable coverage.

Clarify the Care Behind an Expense Question

After a collision requiring rescue and hospital treatment, it can be difficult to sort out who provided each part of the care. If an expense is prompting a legal question, identify the treatment it concerns and explain anything you have not yet been able to clarify. An attorney can help you understand whether an injury claim may be available and whether that care could be included, without asking you to supply a medical explanation yourself.