WINTON – In breaking news, four are confirmed dead in a two vehicle crash on US 158 near Winton on Thursday afternoon.

Hertford County Emergency Management Director Charles Jones told the Roanoke-Chowan News-Herald that two adults and two children lost their lives in the accident, one that occurred in the early afternoon hours. He said the children were less than 3 years of age.

A third child, also under age 3, apparently survived. That victim was transported to Roanoke-Chowan Hospital in Ahoskie and then airlifted by EastCare to Pitt Memorial Hospital in Greenville.

Jones said the driver of the second vehicle involved in the crash, a log truck, was not seriously injured.

“I’ve seen a lot in my 20-plus years of doing this job and this has to be the worse accident I’ve ever seen,” Jones told the News-Herald.

There was no confirmation of the names of any of the victims or their hometowns.

See Saturday’s edition of the Roanoke-Chowan News-Herald for full details.