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GATES – One motorist was tragically killed while five others sustained injuries during a crash involving two vehicles near here Sunday morning.

The mishap occurred at around 9:40 a.m. on SR 1219 (Sarem Road) approximately 5.2 miles north of Gatesville.

North Carolina Highway Patrol Trooper Chamblee said 71-year-old Larry Beamon of Gates lost his life in the crash. A passenger in his car, 43-year-old Darrin Walton, suffered serious injuries and was airlifted to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital.

Chamblee said Beamon and Walton share the same address on Sarem Road.

A family of four, reportedly on their way to church, were injured: the driver, Evan Winn, age 29, and his wife, Chelsea, along with their children, Theodore and Harper.

Chamblee said members of the Winn family, who reside on Rooks Road near Gates, were transported to various hospitals in Virginia. He added that none suffered life-threatening injuries.

According to Chamblee’s accident report, Beamon was operating a 2017 Chevrolet passenger car, traveling west on Sarem Road. Meanwhile, the Winn family was headed east on Sarem Road.

Chamblee said Beamon’s vehicle traveled left of center and struck Winn’s 2010 Ford SUV head-on. After impact, Beamon’s vehicle slightly left the roadway before coming to a stop. Winn’s vehicle traveled completely off the road, coming to rest in a ditch.

No charges were filed.

Chamblee said he is waiting on the results of Beamon’s autopsy to see if it reveals any contributing factors that may have caused the accident. As of now, the only contributing factor is that Beamon’s vehicle traveled left of center and impacted Winn’s SUV.