Husband grieves after wife dies in Gastonia crash

GASTONIA, N.C. — Officials are investigating a fatal crash Tuesday morning that involved a car and a garbage truck in Gastonia.

A 31-year-old woman was killed in the crash at about 5 a.m. at the intersection of Franklin Boulevard and U.S. 321, Gastonia police said.

The woman, Leslie Barrientos of Gastonia, was driving south on U.S. 321 when her 2014 Ford Fusion hit a garbage truck.

• PHOTOS: Driver dies in crash involving trash truck

The truck, driven by Robert Dawkins, 50, was driving west on Franklin Boulevard.

Leslie Barrientos died at the scene.

Barrientos' husband, Moises, and Dawkins were taken to CaroMont Regional Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries.

"I wish this was a dream,” Moises Barrientos said. “That I'd wake up and she'd be right next to me."

Barrientos’ last memory is returning home from a Christmas party in Charlotte.

The two were married for nine years.

"She was very kind, beautiful," Barrientos said.

She has a son about 12 and he has two younger children.

"She made me a better person," he said.

He fell asleep on the ride home and doesn’t remember the wreck.

"They said I was out of the car,” Barrientos said. “I was lying on the ground. I don't remember that."

Franklin Boulevard was shut down for more than four hours while officials investigated and waited for a wrecker to tow the garbage truck.

Gastonia police and N.C. Highway Patrol are still investigating the cause of the crash.

"I don't believe speed was a factor; weather, of course it was raining at the time. It could have potentially been a contributing factor to the collision. We'll have to take a look at the crash data recorder to see if brakes were applied," Sgt. K.C. McCabe said.
Police said it appears that someone ran the red light at the intersection, but they do not know yet who is responsible.

Any witnesses of the accident are asked to call Gastonia police at 704-866-6702.

Be sure to download the WSOC-TV Wake Up app to get the latest breaking news, weather and traffic on your phone first thing in the mornings. 

Read more top trending stories on wsoctv.com:

• Woman killed in Gastonia wreck involving car, trash truck
• 2 Charlotte airline workers accused of embezzling checked bag fees
• Police: Pit bull shot 6 times in Monroe family's backyard
• Tickets for Panthers home playoff game go on sale Tuesday
• Beckham suspended 1 game for conduct against Panthers

WSOC