LEWISTON-WOODVILLE – A truck driver from Tarboro stands charged following a two-vehicle accident near here Tuesday afternoon that claimed the life of an Ahoskie man.

North Carolina Highway Patrol Trooper Michael Gerard charged David Neal Cox, 36, with misdemeanor death by motor vehicle after the 3:30 p.m. mishap on NC 11 south of Lewiston-Woodville.

The accident left an Ahoskie family grieving over the loss of James Michael Brinkley, 46.

According to Gerard’s report, Cox – operating a 1992 Freightliner, owned by Everett Express Inc. of Tarboro – was alone in his 18-wheeler as it traveled south on NC 11 near the Indian Woods Road intersection. There, Cox reportedly swerved his rig left of center in order to avoid colliding with another 18-wheeler that apparently had slowed in front of his truck.

Meanwhile, Brinkley was operating a 2003 Ford pick-up truck traveling north on NC 11. Gerard’s report revealed that Brinkley attempted to avoid the collision with Cox’s rig by steering his vehicle off the northbound shoulder of the road. However, that was the location where the two vehicles collided, both coming to rest in the ditch.

Cox was uninjured.

The fatality was the seventh of the year on Roanoke-Chowan area roadways.