'Please pray for our school’: South Stanly High School student dies in crash

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, N.C. — A South Stanly High School senior died in a crash in Montgomery County Thursday morning during heavy rain, troopers say.

Cameron Needham, 18, was driving south on NC 73 toward Mt. Gilead just before 10 a.m. when witnesses said he passed multiple cars within the passing zone.

Troopers said he lost control, and the car spun in front of a tractor-trailer driving in the opposite direction near Lake Tillery. The tractor-trailer tried to avoid the car, but crashed into the car’s passenger side.

It was raining heavily at the time and Needham may have been driving too fast for those conditions, troopers say.

Several people stopped to try to help, but the 18-year-old died at the scene.

Needham lived in Mt. Gilead and was a senior enrolled in remote learning at South Stanly High School.

South Stanly’s head football coach shared that Needham was an athlete at the school as well in a post on Twitter.

The Stanly County Schools superintendent shared his condolences in a statement.

“Stanly County Schools is grieving the loss of a SSHS remote learning senior that was involved in a fatal car accident this morning. We are extending our deepest condolences to the family, and we ask for your continued thoughts and prayers for all involved. School counselors will remain available for the students as they process the event. School administration and staff will continue to give support and resources to students and families.”

Highway Patrol is still investigating the crash.

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