Mount Pleasant woman charged in crash

PEMBROKE, N.C. — A Lowcountry woman driving a car faster than 100 mph jumped railroad tracks here and slammed into two motorcycles, killing the bikers and injuring a third rider, police said.

Police Chief Dwayne Hunt said Julie Miller, 40, of Mount Pleasant never braked late Friday as she sped into the town in a four-door Saturn and lost control, The Fayetteville Observer reported Monday.

The motorcycles were hit as they turned into a gas station lot with other riders. Hunt said 16 people witnessed the crash.

Virginia C. Locklear of Lumberton died instantly, Hunt said. She was a passenger on one bike, and the driver was critically injured. Hunt said Marie D. Locklear of Pembroke was alone on the other bike and was killed.

Miller was charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter and one count of assault with a deadly weapon, the chief said. She was being held at the Robeson County Jail under $1.25 million bond.

According to Hunt, Miller said she couldn't recall the crash and tested negative for alcohol and drugs. Hunt said he would send a detective to South Carolina to try to determine why Miller was in the Robeson County town.

The Saturn came to a stop two blocks from the crash scene, and Hunt said one motorcycle was cut in half.

"We had debris for two city blocks. Motorcycle parts," Hunt said.